President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the government should provide institutional support to grass root innovators, adding that their efforts will not be appreciated if necessary linkages between the relevant stakeholders are not established.

"The Government should provide institutional support to the grass root innovators. Their efforts will not be appreciated if necessary linkages between the relevant stakeholders are not established. The 'Festival of Innovations' which is organized by Rashtrapati Bhavan in collaboration with National Innovation Foundation has helped to bring together creative energy from different domains," President Mukherjee said while receiving a copy of book 'Grassroots Innovation' authored by Professor Anil K. Gupta of IIM Ahmedabad who is also the Vice Chairman of the National Innovation Foundation at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated Professor Gupta and said that he was deeply appreciative of his efforts and painstaking work about the innate creativity and innovative potential of the people.

He stated that Gupta's book was about stories of extraordinary men and women who are silently contributing in the innovation movement for the economic development and advancement of society.

The President conveyed his best wishes to Gupta and his dedicated team to continue their march in adding value to the ideas and innovations of communities at grassroots level.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Chairperson of the National Innovation Foundation. (ANI)