What is an ATL or Atal Tinkering Lab?
ATL or Atal Tinkering Lab is an initiative by NITI Aayog under the stewardship of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to give a boost to the innovation ecosystem in the country. The objective behind setting up an ATL to create an ecosystem fueled by curiosity, creativity, and imagination in India. An ATL refers to a workspace where young minds get the freedom to tinker, to invent and unleash their creative potential. Here, they can develop and inculcate skills such as physical computing, analytical thinking, adaptive learning, computational thinking, among other skills.
Avishkaar’s offering for an Atal Tinkering Lab focuses on creating an environment that promotes the participants to dream, the equipment which allows them to tinker, the curriculum that enables them to structure their thinking and a challenging environment that enables young innovators to test themselves.
Who Can Apply to Setup an Atal Tinkering Lab?
If you wish to apply for setting up an ATL lab, you need to fulfill the following criteria:
- Your school should encapsulate grades VI to X.
- Your school should come under the purview of the Central or State government; local bodies (Municipality or the Nagar Nigam); private trusts or the Tribal/Social welfare department.
How Much Grant Money is Released to the School for Establishing an ATL?
A sum of Rs. 20 lakhs is given to the school for setting up an Atal Tinkering Lab. This includes Rs. 10 lakhs as one-time establishment charge to source ATL material which contains instruments/equipment for prototyping, electronics, measurement, 3D printer, etc. Furthermore, Rs. 10 lakhs are released as operational expenses for a maximum period of 5 years to each ATL.
What Constitutes ATL Material Packages?
As per the suggestion of NITI Aayog, schools that are looking to set up an Atal Tinkering Lab are required to purchase material as per ‘ATL Equipment List’. All the equipment supplied to the ATL labs are classified under the below mentioned four packages:
- Package 1: Electronic Development, Robotics, Internet of Things and Sensors
- Bundle 2: Rapid Prototyping Tools
- Package 3: Mechanical, Electrical and Measurement tools
- Bundle 4: Power Supply & Accessories and Safety Equipment
Unique Offerings by Avishkaar
Avishkaar offers the following exclusive additional services for ATL labs set up by us:
- Monthly engagement activities: Especially designed online activities are sent to trainers/coordinators to keep them engaged and provide them with ample opportunity to tinker as much as they can.
- Manuals: Avishkaar provides hard copies of manuals on various subjects such as 3D Printing, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.
- Training support: Once we’ve set up the ATL lab, we provide in-house training for 4 days to initiate tinkering in your Atal Tinkering Lab.
- Events & Competitions: Avishkaar conducts international level competitions and events such as IRC League, Avishkaar Makeathon, Avishkaar Residential Training where students and mentors alike get an opportunity to participate and win amazing prizes such as entry to IRC Internationals and sponsored international educational trips. Avishkaar has conducted competitions in USA, Russia, China, UAE, Singapore, Maldives, and will travel to the United Kingdom in 2020.
- Resourceful storage solution: Along with the aforementioned offerings, various storage solutions for tools and kits are provided during the ATL lab setup.
So, if you’re looking to set up an Atal Tinkering Lab, stop. You’ve come to the right place!