Government Invites Applications for Atal Tinkering Laboratories
The CEO, NITI Aayog, Shri Amitabh Kant, the Secretary, School Education and Literacy, Dr. Subash Chandra Khuntia and other dignitaries at the inauguration of the Expert Consultative Group Meeting on Creating a framework for operationalizing 500 Atal Tinkering Labs, in New Delhi on July 19, 2016.
With a vision to ‘Cultivate One Million Children in India as Neoteric Innovators,’ Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India.
The objective of this scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing, etc.
ATL is a work space where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands on do-it-yourself mode; and learn innovation skills.
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Young children will get a chance to work with tools and equipment to understand the concepts of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
ATL would contain educational and learning ‘do it yourself’ kits and equipment on – science, electronics, robotics, open source microcontroller boards, sensors and 3D printers and computers. Other desirable facilities include meeting rooms and video conferencing facility.
In order to foster inventiveness among students, ATL can conduct different activities ranging from regional and national level competitions, exhibitions, workshops on problem solving, designing and fabrication of products, lecture series etc. at periodic intervals.
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AIM will provide grant-in-aid that includes a one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a maximum period of 5 years to each ATL.
Schools (Grade VI – XII) managed by government, local body or private trusts / society are eligible to set up ATL.
Schools desirous to establish ATLs can submit their application online to the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog. The last date of submission is 20th July 2016.
Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau
