ATL Labs serve as fertile grounds where children cultivate skills that extend far beyond confines of textbooks: Chandrasekhar

The Minister further emphasized India's remarkable progress in electronics manufacturing, highlighting the creation of a thriving tech ecosystem.

Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Jal Shakti, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced 10 Atal Tinkering Labs in Thiruvananthapuram for 10 schools in the city during his address to young Indians, academics, startups, and researchers at the inauguration ceremony of the Net Zero Emission Project at NIMS Medicity, Thiruvananthapuram.

In his speech, he highlighted the importance of Digital India and Skill India projects, emphasizing their potential to generate significant opportunities in India. He remarked, "These initiatives not only shape the present but also hold immense promise for students' future careers. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, today's students are the rightful beneficiaries of India's digital advancements."

The Minister also highlighted the contrast from a decade ago when students and young Indians lacked sufficient support and encouragement to embark on an entrepreneurial journey.

"In the past, a significant gap existed for average young Indians to succeed in India. Success seemed reserved for those from financially powerful families or with substantial influence. However, the landscape has transformed. Today, any young talent armed with innovative ideas can successfully launch enterprises in India. The transformative change from Old India to New India has been revolutionary. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi once remarked that out of every 100 rupees spent, only 15 reached the intended beneficiary. In contrast, today's digital payment systems and direct transfers ensure that the entire sum reaches its rightful beneficiaries. Prime Minister Modi ji has been instrumental in driving this change," he said.

The Minister also interacted with students. “Innovative and experiential learning is the way to create innovators from the school level. Atal Tinkering Labs, championed by our Prime Minister, are coming up in schools across the nation. These labs serve as fertile grounds where children cultivate skills that extend far beyond the confines of textbooks. From tinkering with ideas to hands-on experimentation, students delve into the realms of creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. These labs not only prepare them for college and university but also ignite a passion for lifelong learning,” he said while responding to a question from a student.

The Minister further emphasized India's remarkable progress in electronics manufacturing, highlighting the creation of a thriving tech ecosystem.

"Despite narratives suggesting limited infrastructure development possibilities, India has defied expectations. Leveraging technology, the same Indians who were once doubted have orchestrated revolutionary changes. India now stands as the world's second-largest producer of electronics, with a thriving ecosystem in semiconductor development. As we forge ahead, we are not merely building infrastructure; we are shaping a new India—one that embraces progress and innovation," the Minister further added.

The Minister also unveiled the Nanajisat satellite, a remarkable achievement by NIMS engineering students.

Minister Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar was the first to establish Atal Tinkering Labs in Kerala. In July 2023, he inaugurated the first ATL Lab at his alma mater, St. Paul's School in Kuriachira, Thrissur, operating under a pioneering public-private partnership model.

The objective of Atal Tinkering Labs under the Atal Tinkering Mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc.

(With Inputs from PIB)