Bhubaneswar: Templecity Institute of Technology and Engineering (TITE), Khurda, along with Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) Karnataka and Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU) Bihar, organised ‘Prayas 2020’, a national-level competition of innovative projects.
The event, according to a press release, saw some 60 prototypes that were exhibited by around 500 engineering and technology students from 15 campuses in Odisha and beyond.
Angels touch, a safety device for women, road safety with speed breaker power generator and traffic reduce system, automatic firefighting robot, a device which will serve as a mobile toilet-cum-hiding place for women in danger., were some of the designs that grabbed the attention of judges, experts and laymen alike at the exhibition.
The competition was supported by World Bank under its Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP).
“This is a very special competition which not only aimed to bring out the inventiveness and creativity of youngsters but also to boost their practical problem-solving ability,” said Satyam Roychowdhury, founder and managing director of Techno India Group, and also the Chancellor of Sister Nivedita University, at the inauguration of the competition.
“I am absolutely confident that some of the youngsters could be the next-generation designers, and maybe entrepreneurs,” he said. “If the projects are fundable, Techno India Group is certainly there to provide funds,” Mr Roychowdhury added.
Of the entries, some said they have developed the devices with an eye for profit. “I am not celebrating anything until I know our project is worth being funded,” said a college student from Dhenkanal. He was part of the group from the college which has come up with the device – mobile toilet-cum-hiding place for women in danger.
The event was graced by dignitaries Dr Anadi Sahoo, Dean of Academics, TITE, Dr Ratikanta Sahoo, Director, TITE; Mr Satyam Roychowdhury, Founder and Managing Director, Techno India Group, and Chancellor, Sister Nivedita University; Dr Sonku Bose, Chief Adviser, Techno India Group; Dr K S Rao, former scientist of the Minerals and Materials Technology; and Dr P K Sahu, Associate Professor, KIIT University.
