New Delhi:To promote toy manufacturing among domestic players, particularly among rural entrepreneurs, the Common Service Centre (CSC), an SPV under the Ministry of Electronics and IT Ministry, has joined hands with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to organise 'Toycathon-2021'.
"Toycathon-2021 is aimed at understanding the creativity among start-ups in rural areas, students and professionals for developing and manufacturing toys. It is a unique opportunity for students, teachers, start-ups and toy experts/professionals in India to submit their innovative toys/games concepts and win prizes worth Rs 50 lakhs,'' said CSC Managing Director Dr Dinesh Tyagi.
Toycathon-2021 is an inter-ministerial initiative involving six ministries. Organised by the Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell with support from AICTE, the initiative is being supported by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Toycathon-2021 will be conducted through CSC Academy, an arm of CSC, at 6,000 block and taluka level where CSC Academies are present.
''CSC Academy, a not-for-profit society which delivers specialised courses/training programmes, and promotes entrepreneurship among the rural masses, is best suited for this unique initiative due to its reach and expertise. CSC Academies are being utilised to create awareness, promote and conduct Toycathon-2021 in rural areas. The new concepts of toys generated from Tyocathon-2021 might also be useful in solving our societal problems,'' said Dr Tyagi, who is also Secretary of the CSC Academy.
Dr Tyagi said today India's toy market stands at around 1.5 billion dollars, which primarily is dominated by imported toys. Moreover, majority of these toys do not represent Indian heritage, civilisation and value systems.
''The Indian toy market has huge potential and can bring a transformative change. Toys can be an excellent medium to further the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that ''Toys aligned with Indian culture and ethos should be used as pedagogical tools'', and Toycathon-2021 aims to achieve that,'' Dr Tyagi added.(UNI)