'Our problem is not a budget deficit but a trust deficit. We need to trust our institutions and industries to innovate and lead. That is the way forward for India.'
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday approved the setting up of a National Innovation Council to prepare a road map for the 'Decade of Innovation 2011-2020'.
The newly constituted National Innovation Council (NIC) headed by Sam Pitroda, aims to have a $1-billion (around Rs 4,600 crore) fund to promote new ideas for inclusive development and innovation in the country.
Pitroda, who pioneered the telecom revolution in India, added that government will open four large data centres to enable the flow of information up to the panchayat level.
Since the last few years, the telecom sector has been affected by regulatory uncertainty which has hurt the investor sentiment.
In its recommendations, NIC says Kerala may create two Knowledge cities where people can live and work in the same place.
National Innovation Council (NIC) Chairman Sam Pitroda on Monday said the council will launch its Rs 5,000-crore venture fund aimed at supporting small enterprises by March.
The six winning innovations which include novel design of a rickshaw, a human powered motor, display unit for street vendors, a low-cost cycle for physically challenged would help reduce the drudgery of construction workers and sanitation workers.
India has to create a new model of innovation for sustainable and inclusive growth and for empowering its poor, said Sam Pitroda, head of the National Innovation Council (NIC).
The National Innovation Council has been set up to herald a 'decade of innovation' in India from 2011-2020.
Last month, the prime minister had approved the setting up of the council to prepare a road map for the Decade of Innovation 2010-2020.
There were opportunities in having these people to open bank accounts and use phone banking, said Pitroda.
Speaking at the Global Innovation and Technology Alliance Platform in New Delhi, T Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology said, India has captured a grassroot innovation system through formal structures.
Envisioning and implementing a Railway innovation programme needs attitude training and skill impartation, says R Gopalakrishnan.
'The mood in the country is the challenge. Everything is going well, but nobody is feeling good. Why? I don't know. Maybe aspirations are too high... The most important thing in life is to be a good person. Rahul is a wonderful person. He is a thinking man. He has convictions and is passionate about his work.' Sam Pitroda discusses the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi in an exclusive interview with Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.
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