The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (NIRDPR) will hold a ‘Rural Innovation and Startup Conclave’ here on March 23 and 24. The RISC-2017 would provide a platform for start-ups to showcase their products and services. It would encourage the start-ups to learn and strengthen the capacities of the young, rural innovators.

“Start-ups in the country are mostly IT based and cater to urban services. Innovation and technology diffusion for rural development is the need of the hour. There is a need to develop and nurture mentors, angel investors, faculty, corporates, media so that they play a much more active role in contributing to the ecosystem,” W R Reddy, Director-General of NIRDPR, said here in a statement on Wednesday.

The RISC2017 would also feature awards in six categories of Agriculture and allied; Green energy Technologies, Drinking water, Health and sanitation; Waste to wealth; Sustainable housing and Other livelihoods. Nominations for these awards will be accepted online by March 10.