The Government of Telangana has defined Grassroot Innovation and Startups with Grassroot/Rural impact as follows in the G.O.Ms.No. 8 dated 27-07-2021.
Definition of Grassroot Innovation:
Grassroot Innovation is a term that has gained recent popularity in India and other developing nations. While the term âGrassroot Innovationâ can be understood by alloying the meaning of the word âGrassrootâ and âInnovationâ together; its ambit can hardly be contained in the definition. But for the sake of clarity, we would define âInnovationâ, âGrassrootâ and âGrassroot Innovationâ to make the initial contours.
Innovation: An idea/product which is unprecedented/novel manifested through its usage of either one or multiple of the undermentioned:
- Method
- Material
- Application
- Business System
Grassroot: Grassroot is a collective term to represent the economically marginalized, bottom most pyramid of the society. For clarification, this economically marginalized section of society is not to be taken as marginalized in other capitals like: skill, intellectual, and ethical. This is a collective mass of people who could be termed as âLast Mileâ âThe last beneficiaryâ, âAntyodayaâ.
Grassroot Innovation: Grassroot Innovation by simple amalgamation of the definition of its parts becomes: Innovation with direct implication for the people at Grassroots.
Grassroot innovation has traditionally been done by grassroot innovators but increasingly startups too have ventured into the space of grassroot innovation.
Definition of âStartups with Grassroot/Rural Impactâ:
A registered entity (Private Limited Company, Registered Partnership Firm, Limited Liability Partnership, Sole Proprietorship, or One Person Company) that uses technology or innovative methodologies to improve livelihoods, processes, lifestyles, health, education or the general welfare of the people at grassroots as defined in the definition above will be called as Startups with grassroot/rural impact.
Social Innovation
In recent years, the potential of social innovation for bringing about social transformation has been actively explored on a global scale. Several countries, including the member countries of the European Union (EU), have successfully implemented different social innovation models to find innovative answers for a wide range of social challenges in the context of public health, microcredit, climate change, education, poverty and so on. In recent years, the potential of social innovation for bringing about social transformation has become extremely evident. The new vision of the government is to focus on building a vibrant Social Innovation Ecosystem in Telangana. The state is on its way to becoming the leading hub for social innovation in India and is also the first state in the country to draft a Social innovation Policy. In efforts to build a flourishing ecosystem for social enterprises and innovators, the state has conducted multiple programs.