Smart City competition brings in tech talent

Our Correspondent Kohima, June 20 (EMN): Atoba Longkumer from Mokokchung has won a competition ‘Innovation Hackathon Challenge’ of the Kohima Smart City Development Limited (KSCDL). He will be working with the KSCDL to develop a Kohima Smart City app soon. It was his app offering smart solutions that landed him at the first position from among nine other innovators. He was declared the winner at an event that was held on June 20 at the Kohima Smart City office. The Smart City Hackathon Innovation Challenge was organised by the KSCDL to address matters related to city management, and how to capture and use city data such as services, health, education, parks, roads etc. The 28-year old innovator is said to have prepared for the challenge within a span of seven days after an examination that got over on June 13. It took him ‘dedicated hours of 14 to 15’ a day for the challenge, he told Eastern Mirror. His smart solution app had varieties of features and contents such as citizen-centric services, GIS-based information accessibility; citizens’ grievances and reporting modules; government regulated market price of commodities; helpline and reporting capabilities; e-commerce integration for selling local products etc., were among the features of the app. The second prize was bagged by Yinjun C Naam. His app was to offer solutions in tackling drain waste by giving technical solutions such as building and installing innovative filters at drains and rivers. Another competitor, Vimhakhol Rhetso was adjudged third. He presented a civil engineering solution to replace bricks by using plastic bottles for building structures such as retaining walls, houses etc. The challenge was open to all. A cash prize of INR 50K, INR 30K, and INR 20K was given to the first, second and third prize winners, in that order. The judges for the event were Ben Imchen, director of Elysium Tech, Hyderabad; Kezocholie Rhetso, deputy director of Urban Development, and general manager for planning, KSCDL); and event convenor Yanpvuo Kikon, senior technology management consultant, KSCDL). Speaking during the programme was the Chief Executive Officer of KSCDL Kovi Meyase. “To create a smart city, we need smart citizens and I am happy to witness the gathering of the smartest people coming together to share your ideas for building a better Kohima,” Meyase said. He encouraged innovators of the community to come forward with ideas and innovations to enable the government to invest in viable and innovative ideas. He expressed belief that the ideas would help build a smarter city for the benefit of the public.