Dynamic networks of grassroots innovators in India

Abstract

‘Grassroots innovations’ in India are receiving increasing attention from innovation scholars and policymakers alike. These innovations are individual or community efforts to solve the problems faced in one's daily life. Moreover, rather than responding to any ‘potential market’ demand, these efforts are often geared towards satisfying one's own innate psychological needs and fulfilment of the so-called ‘social duty’. The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) is working towards popularisation and diffusion of these innovations. Such policies have taken the form of various kinds of formal and informal networks involving innovation. Using primary and secondary data, we intend to study the relationships between various kinds of networks that innovators form at different stages of innovation. Results show that networks keep changing and have vital effects on the innovation in the informal sector.

Keywords:

• grassroots innovations
• informal sector innovations
• networks
• India

Acknowledgement

I am thankful to the two anonymous reviewers and Dr Manasi Singh from Central University of Gujarat for their critical comments.

Notes

1 The English meaning of ‘Shodh Yatra’ is ‘Journey for search’. SRISTI (Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions) and NIF organise ‘Shodh Yatra’ twice a year to search for knowledge, creativity and innovations at grassroots level in India. This event provides an opportunity for people to interact with other people and learn from each other. For detail see: http://www.sristi.org/cms/shodh_yatra1 [Accessed 22 June 2014].

2 Tagore selected these institutions’ motto from an ancient Sanskrit verse, Yatra visvam bhavatieka nidam, which means, ‘Where the whole world meets in a single nest.’ For detail see: http://visva-bharati.ac.in/at_a_glance/at_a_glance.htm [Accessed 21 June 2014].