‘The Gandhian Challenge’: launched by AIM, Atal Tinkering Labs and UNICEF India

On the occasion of 150th birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog’s Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and UNICEF India, including Generation Unlimited, launched ‘The Gandhian Challenge’ for school children. This innovation challenge provides a platform for every child across India to ideate innovative solutions for a sustainable India of their dreams, using Gandhi’s principles.

About The Gandhian Challenge’

Objective: To support children to thrive as young innovators and entrepreneurs.

Problem statement for Gandhian Challenge is– ‘Share your innovative solutions or ideas to create a futuristic and sustainable world of your dreams, following Gandhi’s principles.’ The contest celebrates 70 years of partnership between Government of India and UNICEF India to enable Every Right for Every Child. It is open for every child in India from 2-20 October 2019. Through this partnership, AIM and UNICEF would recognize every child’s ability and right to voice their dreams for a world of their choice, following Gandhi’s principles.

Broad Categories through which ideas and solutions to Gandhian Challenge may be expressed: Art & Innovation (Letters, poems, painting, videos and photos, among others) and Science, Technology & Innovation (Robotics, IoT, sensors and 3D printers, among others).

Winners: The winners of The Gandhian Challenge will be awarded in New Delhi by NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission and UNICEF on the occasion of Children’s Day on 14 November 2019. The most innovative, sustainable ideas/solutions will be showcased as a symbol of a larger movement by children taking root in every district of India. Also, Children across India can access to over 8000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across all districts to support their innovative ideas. In ATLs, 6th to 12th class students can acquire a problem-solving attitude, develop innovative solutions leveraging technologies like 3D printers, robotics, miniaturised electronics, Internet of Things (IOT) and programming and DIY kits, with support from teachers and mentors.

About UNICEF India and Generation Unlimited:

UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) is an integral part of United Nations. It is guided by Convention on the Rights of the Child. It works with governments, civil society organizations, communities, private sector, and other partners worldwide to advance children’s rights.

Generation Unlimited: It is a new UNICEF-led global partnership that aims to ensure that every young person age 10-24 is in some form of learning, school, self-employment, training, or age-appropriate employment by 2030. It seeks to co-create and scale up proven solutions related to secondary age-education, skills for learning, employability and decent work, and empowerment, with a focus on girls.

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