Pune, February 6, 2025 – Techvision 2025, the flagship STEM initiative by Salaam Bombay Foundation, made a significant impact at EduConclave 2.0, held at Savitribai Phule Pune University. Organised in partnership with Pune Knowledge Cluster (under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India), Techvision provided a platform for students from resource-challenged backgrounds to showcase innovative, real-world tech solutions.
In just its second edition, Techvision has been institutionalised through its collaboration with the Principal Scientific Adviser’s Office. This year, the exhibition was visited by over 100 STEM educators, along with over 1000 students across 14 Pune government and government-aided schools, demonstrating how hands-on STEM learning is transforming young lives.
Another breakthrough was the Smart Wheelchair, designed by Prathamesh Sonawane and Sarthak Arjun from Pune. Featuring remote navigation and obstacle detection, the device allows individuals with mobility challenges to navigate independently. “Now, physical impairments will not stop people from moving freely,” Prathamesh explained
Furthering assistive technology, Anushka Deshmukh and Anushka Pingul from Pune created Third Eye – a wearable obstacle detector for the visually impaired. Unlike conventional walking sticks, their device is worn on the limbs and detects obstacles from all four directions through short vibrations. “This is not just a tool—it’s independence,” said Anushka.
Among the standout innovations was KrishiBot, a remote-controlled fertiliser spraying solution designed by Aditya Pingale from Dindori, Nashik, with his friends Abhijeet Pawar and Parashram Pingal. Watching his uncle struggle with heavy fertiliser cans, Aditya developed KrishiBot to reduce physical strain and increase efficiency, allowing farmers to operate it remotely from up to 3 km away using cell phone. “Now farmers can spray fertiliser across their fields without exhausting themselves,” he shared.
Tackling road safety, Kranti Naik and Harshal from Mumbai developed a helmet with a built-in alcohol detector that beeps upon detecting alcohol in the wearers breath. “We hope such innovations become mandatory, reducing accidents and saving lives,” said Kranti.
Present at the EduConclave 2.0 was Dr. Vivek Sawant, Chief Mentor, Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd., who also visited the students at Techvision and discussed how STEM can bridge educational inequalities. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Mallinath Kalshetti, Director of Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA), who remarked, “I noticed students from many municipal school who presented their robotics projects which are useful for society.” Dr. Priya Nagaraj – CEO of Pune Knowledge Cluster, said, “As community leaders, we have a responsibility to guide students in using technology responsibly and ethically, and as a tool that enhances learning. This year’s EduConclave conference theme, ‘Transforming STEM Education’ aims to explore different digital tools, their effective classroom implementation and the ethical considerations of integrating technology into education.”
With New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasising vocational training, Techvision aligns with this vision by fostering hands-on STEM education at the school level, ensuring students from under-resourced backgrounds gain real-world skills. “Techvision is not just about potential; it’s about impact. These students are not waiting for opportunities—they’re creating them,” said Gaurav Arora, Chief Growth Officer, Salaam Bombay Foundation, “We envision to make Techvision a national platform for young innovators from under privileged backgrounds, bridging the opportunity gap and creating a future where talent is nurtured, regardless of socio-economic background.”
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