Nagaland student among top 60 in INSPIRE-MANAK

DIMAPUR — Four students from Nagaland represented the state at the 12th INSPIRE-MANAK National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC), held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from October 12 to the 14th, with Latongkumla securing a place among the top 60 awardees.

According to a press release, the INSPIRE-MANAK scheme, launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi, in collaboration with the National Innovation Foundation-India, aims to encourage students from Classes 6 to 12 to develop original, science-based innovative ideas and compete at various levels.

Under the scheme, selected students receive financial assistance of INR 10,000, transferred directly to their bank accounts, to develop prototypes or projects for participation in district, state and national-level competitions.

The four students from Nagaland were selected during the state-level competition and mentoring programme held at the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Nagaland, Kohima.

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The awardees were Ninile Tenenu of Mt. Hermon School, Kohima, for a multi-purpose pen; Wapanginla Imsong of Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), Tuli, Mokokchung, for an eco-friendly bamboo dustbin; Latongkumla of KV Tuli, Mokokchung, for an eco-friendly foldable umbrella; and B Sunga Phom of Azedon School, Kohima, for an AI-based maid-helper robot.

The SCERT Nagaland expressed pride in the participation of all four awardees at the national-level competition, particularly Latongkumla's achievement in securing a place among the top 60. She received an award and citation from Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, during the award ceremony held on October 14 in New Delhi.