Regional Science Centre, Bhubaneswar a unit of the National Council of
Science Museums (NCSM), is the first regional level science centre in the state of Odisha.
Since its inception, the centre has been attracting a large number of visitors, especially
school students, from all over the state and has been playing a key role in realizing the
national goal of inclusive 'Science education for all' through Mobile Science Exhibitions,
Science Demonstrations, S&T based galleries, Training and Workshops etc.

In its unwavering pursuit of promoting science and innovation, National
Innovation Foundation (NIF) in collaboration with Ministry of Culture & Department of
Science and Technology, Govt. of India, announced the inauguration of the Innovation
Yatra. The Innovation Yatras are organized as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava for
celebrating Atmanirbharta through rural innovations. This event will generate
awareness among the public and bring out the grassroots innovations in different
regions through village meetings, poster and innovation exhibitions. The vehicle for
this campaign is set travel to cover various regions of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
On this occasion Regional Science Centre, Bhubaneswar in partnership with
NIF organized flagged off the Innovation Yatra today 5 th August 2023 at 11:00 AM. The
students from various parts of Bhubaneswar attended the programme and got a unique
opportunity to get an insight about the grassroots innovations and its importance by
interacting with fellow innovators. The event started with a welcome address by
Dr. Kiran Rawat of NIF. Dr. Vivek Kumar, Scientist for NIF, made the participants aware
of the importance and different aspects of the programme. It was followed by a speech
delivered by Dr. Laxmi Narayan Padhi, Sr. Scientist, Govt. of Odisha, where he
delineated his views on the role of innovation to achieve the aim of Atmanirbharta. After
that Sh. Kapil Jain, Project Coordinator, Regional Science Centre, Bhubaneswar took the
stage to portray his views on the importance of reaching the grassroots level to trace
the rural innovations. In addition to this, he addressed the kinds of challenges faced by
the state of Odisha and the role of grassroots innovation to tackle these challenges. Then
he thanked "Team NIF" for convening such a philanthropic campaign and wished a
grand success of this endeavour. Thereafter Sh. Yogendra Patra, a rural innovator
presented his journey about how he developed a machine to prepare leaf plates and
cups using plant leaves, in spite of facing all odds from a very young age. Thereafter
Sh. Ajay Prusti, a rural innovator from Dhenkanal district of Odisha, described how he
developed paddy straw bed making machine which is a major step forward to ease and
usher mushroom cultivation. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by

Dr. Moumita Sahoo of NIF and the vehicle set off on its wheels to trace, address and
foster a temperament of grassroots innovation in parts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
You are kindly requested to propagate the message through your esteemed