Niti launches vernacular innovation programme in 22 languages for entrepreneurs

In a move aimed at empowering innovators and entrepreneurs across the country by removing the language barrier, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under the NITI Aayog has developed a vernacular innovation program (VIP), which will enable innovators and entrepreneurs in India to have access to the innovation ecosystem in 22 scheduled languages.

Under the programme, AIM will be training a vernacular task force (VTF) in each of the 22 scheduled languages with each task force consisting of vernacular language teachers, subject experts and technical writers.

Further, the AIM will launch a train-the-trainer program where it will collaborate with the design department of IIT Delhi to coach the VTF in design thinking and entrepreneurship and the adaptation of these subjects in the 22 languages and cultures.

“Upon training the task force over the period of December 2021 to April 2022, the ecosystem will be opened to vernacular innovators,” the Aayog said on Wednesday.

“Vernacular innovation program strengthens the design and innovation capabilities of our communities, thereby assisting local entrepreneurs, artisans and innovators to seamlessly assimilate the knowledge cum technical materials that AIM will develop,” NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar said. “This would assist India in building a strong local network of design experts and innovation practitioners,” he said.

According to Chintan Vaishnav, mission director, AIM, VIP will lower the language barrier in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship such that it will systematically decouple creative expressions and languages of transaction.

Quoting the 2011 census, Vaishnav said only 10.4% of Indians speak English, most as their second, third, or fourth language. Not surprisingly, only 0.02% of Indians spoke English as their first language. Ten years later these numbers are not likely to be very different.

“Why shouldn’t we then create equal opportunity for the vernacular innovators who represent the staggering 90% of our population. After all, we know for sure that this excluded population, no matter which Indian language they speak, is at least as creative as the rest,” he argued.

According to the Aayog, India may be the first nation in the world to launch such an initiative where an innovation ecosystem catering to 22 languages plus English is being built.

“By providing access to learning in one’s language and culture, AIM looks forward to enriching the local, regional, national and global innovation pipelines,” it added.