Yesterday we published a story on S Vivek who had developed a pocket blasting machine. News about many such discoveries is coming in the media. But later not much is heard about it. That sort of bad luck should not befall the invention of this Thuravoor native with an investment of only three thousand rupees. This design can be utilized if the Controller of Explosives Inspectorate takes the initiative. But there is not enough encouragement from the scientific community and the government for the inventions of the common people. There are many reasons for this.

Firstly there has not been a proper awareness in society about who to approach with inventions. If the designer asks for direct funding to produce it commercially, there is no government department to provide it. Moreover, the attitude of the common people towards inventions is not comforting. That is what needs to change. The merit of the invention should be assessed, not on the basis of the qualification of the inventor. It rarely happens. The students of the Engineering College, Thiruvananthapuram had developed a device that can clean the drainage from the manhole without the help of individuals. It is now being manufactured on an industrial scale. The fact that it was the engineering students who worked behind it was one of the main reasons for its success. There is currently a Startup Incubation Lab at the Engineering College, Thiruvananthapuram. Anyone can approach this lab with the design of their own inventions. They also provide technical assistance to develop the design. But there is not enough awareness about this in general. The government should pay more attention to these issues through seminars and other campaigns.

Vivek is a member of the Bomb Squad that developed the cheapest blasting machine. Training in bomb disposal technology from Haryana paved the way for the new invention. Power On is awaiting final approval from the Centre for Development Studies. If it is found to be beneficial, the authorities concerned should be careful not to delay in approving it. The biggest advantage of this invention is that the device, which now costs up to Rs 1 lakh, can be manufactured at a nominal cost. If approved, police forces in other states will also need it. It is to be hoped that those who head the Department of Science and Technology will give more prominence to such matters in future.