Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today presented awards to 21 innovators under the Odisha Youth Innovation scheme at the launch of the 12th Entrepreneurs’ Week here.
The scheme, which was launched last year, honours youngsters with innovative concepts and entrepreneurial ideas. Abinash Sahoo, 22, an aeronautical engineering student from Bhubaneswar Engineering College, developed a low-cost prototype drone for police. “This drone has various sensors and chips imported from several countries. The drone has a range of 2.5km from its control and would help the police to be more vigilant. It can also be used to delivery emergency blood or medicine during traffic,” said Sahoo.
Bhubaneswar entrepreneur Samit Ranjan, 24, has created a wheelchair or mobility device that runs on electricity but costs less than the ones available in the market.
“It has reclining features and easy mobility switches that even those available here do not offer,” said Ranjan. Similarly, Rupsa Mohapatra, an MPhil student in Ravenshaw University’s commerce department, has designed a mobile phone dome that can negate the harmful effects of the radio waves, The Telegraph reported.
Among some interesting ideas were Koraput resident K. Madhabi’s smokeless chullah or stove for rural areas with members of her self-help group; Nupur Naik’s plan for mass propagation and conservation of medicinal plants; Saibal Sinha’s proposed transformation of waste oil from industries and shipping into utility products such as grease; Sudhanshu Bhushan Samantray’s smart parking; Archita Lahiry’s digital library and digital literacy proposal.