SHILLONG, JUN 12: South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner HDB Sangma inaugurated and dedicated the first ever Atal Tinkering Laboratory at Ampati government higher secondary school, Ampati, here on Tuesday. The state of the art laboratory is the first of its kind in Garo Hills and second in the state.
The lab has been set up under the Atal Innovation Mission of Niti Aayog. Under the mission, the Union government plans to establish such labs in schools across the country. The aim is to create scientific temper and cultivate the spirit of curiosity and innovation in young minds.
The lab is mentored and knowledge powered by SRJNA. SRJNA is founded by the alumni of IITs dedicated to empowering the ecosystem in education of k-12. 100+ ATL labs have already been established across the country so far.
Grant in-aid including a one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a period of 5 years to each ATL is provided by Niti Aayog .
Addressing the students at the inaugural ceremony, Deputy Commissioner HDB Sangma stated that the basic objective of the Atal innovative mission was to foster curiosity in the students and build their problem solving aptitude. She urged the teachers to help the students observe their surroundings build their inquisitiveness. The Deputy Commissioner, speaking on the district’s dismal performance in the SSLC and the HSSLC urged the students to be attentive and interactive in the classroom.
Earlier, O P Godara, COO , SRJNA while speaking to the students said that science was the most important aspect of everyone’s life and that students needed to inculcate scientific thinking to invent new things. Necessity is the mother of invention.
The lab will enable young children 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, SRJNA will 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.
Among others who attended the gathering were DSEO, C J Sangma, DSEO, R Z Das, Labour Inspector C B Sangma, Ampati Government H S School Principal K R Marak and Assistant Lecturers Dr Endy Smera M Marak and D M T Sangma.
By Our Reporter
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