Niti Aayog invites applications for 'Mentor India'

5 Dariya News

New Delhi 23-Aug-2017

The Niti Aayog on Wednesday invited applications for its "Mentor India" campaign aimed at engaging industry leaders to mentor students in various schools across the nation.Envisaged to be the largest formal volunteer mentor network, the campaign is aimed at maximising the impact of Atal Tinkering Labs, a statement from the Niti Aayog said. Under the campaign, the government's premier think-tank is looking for corporates, professionals, academicians and students "who are keen to contribute to this strategic nation building initiative", it said.The deadline for submission of applications to join Mentor India is September 30. The mentors would guide students at more than 900 Atal Tinkering Labs set up across the country as a part of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).Atal Tinkering Labs are dedicated work spaces -- equipped with state-of-the-art equipment such as 3D printers, robotics and electronics development tools -- where students from Class 6 to Class 12 can learn innovation skills and develop ideas. "Mentor India has already received strong support from corporate India. More than 30 of India's top thought leaders have signed up as brand ambassadors for the initiative," the Niti Aayog said."More than 90 Atal Tinkering Labs in schools across India have been adopted and are being supported by various corporations and institutions from multiple sectors," it said, adding that it was looking to engage with more institutions to adopt these labs and enable their employees to join Mentor India as volunteers. "Possible areas of contribution from mentors include technical knowhow, innovation and design, inspirational, and business and entrepreneurship," it said. Under the programme, the mentors are expected to spend one to two hours every week in one or more such labs and discuss with students the various problems our society is facing and motivate them to develop solutions to these community problems, the statement said.