Kolkata: (Reported by Sanatan Mahakuda): The 12th Edition of the Tata Social Enterprise Challenge 2024 saw participation from over 2,300 students from various colleges and universities across India. Out of these, the top 100 students made it to the pre-qualifier round, and from there, only 50 were selected for the Grand Finale.
In this highly competitive event, a team from Heritage Institute of Technology earned the prestigious Young Innovators Award 2024 for their project, 'Jambavanta'—an AI-based Smart Irrigation System. The project name, inspired by Jamvanth from the Ramayana, symbolizes how the system, like Jamvanth helping Hanuman realize his potential, will help Indian farmers unlock new opportunities with cutting-edge technology, leading the way for a sustainable agricultural revolution.
The winning team consisted of Ankit Kumar, Ankit Anand, and Mahima from the B.Tech Computer Science Engineering department, along with Shatakshi Ranjan from B.Tech Mechanical Engineering. The team was mentored by Prof. Sukanta Saha from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Heritage Institute of Technology.
The event, organized by Tata Group in collaboration with IIM Calcutta, was held on September 15th at IIM Calcutta Innovation Park. The esteemed panel of judges included industry leaders such as Mr. Hari Balasubramanian, Mr. Anuj Sharma, and Mr. Krishnan Neelakantan.
The team from Heritage Institute of Technology received a cash prize of Rs. 20,000, awarded by Mr. Subhrangshu Sanyal, CEO of IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, in the presence of senior figures like Mr. Gaurav Kapoor, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, and Mr. Chacko Thomas, Group Chief Sustainability Officer at Tata Consultancy Services.
"Our students have made us immensely proud with this remarkable achievement." Mr. P.K. Agarwal, CEO of Heritage Group of Institutions expressed his pride. "Artificial Intelligence will shape the future, and their innovation has the potential to make a lasting impact on Indian farmers."
Prof. Basab Chaudhuri, Principal of Heritage Institute of Technology, added, "I am thankful to our students and Prof. Sukanta Saha for bringing forth an innovation that could boost India's economy, as agriculture is its backbone."
The event highlighted the importance of using technology to solve real-world problems, with the AI-based Smart Irrigation System being a prime example of how innovation can empower farmers and transform agriculture in India.