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Atal tinkering labs

Atal Tinkering Lab - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

ATL Grant Related Queries

Question - What is the Utilization Breakdown for the ATL Grant?
Answer - The Grant Utilization Breakdown is as follows -
Out of the total funds - i.e. the Rs.12 lakhs that have been transferred to the schools under the ATL grant, Rs.10 lakhs are for capital expenses and Rs.2 lakhs are for Operational and Maintainence expenses for the financial year 2017-2018.
The guidelines for Utilization of grant-in-aid is explained below:
1. Utilization of Grant-in-Aid towards Establishment Cost
One time establishment cost of up to Rs. 10.0 lakh has been provided for each ATL. The establishment cost may be utilised for the following purpose:
  • Up to Rs.7 lakh may be utilised for procurement of ATL equipment as per the ATL equipment list, in first 2-3 months after receiving the grant.
  • Maximum of Rs.1 lakh may be used for purchasing laptops and a projector, in case these are not already available in ATL/school.
  • Refurbishment of the ATL in terms of electrical fittings, internet facility, painting procurement of furniture like tables, chairs, storage boxes, printing of banner/board etc. can be undertaken by the schools. A maximum of Rs.1.5 lakhs from the grant-in-aid may be utilised for this purpose.
  • A maximum upto Rs.50,000 can be used for advanced prototyping, based on ATL specific requirements.
2. Utilization of Grant-in-Aid towards Operation and Maintenance
An amount of Rs.10.0 lakh has been provided for each ATL @ Rs. 2 lakh per year (for a period of 5 years). The O&M cost may be utilised for the following purpose:
  • Repair & Maintenance of ATL equipment
  • Purchase of consumables / spares
  • Travel reimbursement for ATL faculty/ ATL students to attend events/meeting/training programme organised by AIM
  • Organising intra and inter-school ATL related events – ATL Tinkerfest, ATL Marathon, ATL mentor sessions, competitions, guest lectures, hands-on workshops for students, training workshops for teachers and community outreach
  • Payment of token honorarium to one ATL-in-charge (only) upto to maximum Rs. 5000 per month.
  • The grant-in-aid should not be used for following purposes:
Payment of salaries to ATL-in-charge, any faculty, lab assistant, equipment vendors, mentors etc.
Question - Does the ATL Grant cover the renovation of the lab?
Answer - A maximum of Rs.1.50 lakh from the grant-in-aid may be utilized for this purpose. As per the Grant Utilization guideline, Grant-in-aid can be utilized for Refurbishment of the ATL in terms of -
  • Electrical fittings
  • Internet facility
  • Painting and whitewashing
  • Procurement of furniture like tables, chairs, storage boxes, printing of banner/board etc.
Question - Are the following modifications allowed in the Atal Tinkering Lab - Installation of Air Conditioning; Soundproofing; Other cosmetic changes? Can funds from the grant be utilized from the same?
Answer - The schools are not allowed to use funds from the ATL grant for installation of air conditioning, soundproofing, and other cosmetic changes. However, the schools can make the above modifications using the their own resources.
Question - Can the schools use the ATL grant to construct the entire lab?
Answer - No, the schools cannot use the ATL grant to construct the lab and the school is expected to provide an existing space for the ATL

Bank Account and IDs

Question - Does the school need to have a separate account for ATL?
Answer - Yes, the school needs to have a separate bank account for the ATL. The Bank Account should be in the school’s name in a nationalized bank or any bank having CBS (Core Banking Solution) facility. The school can maintain its existing account only if the account is in the school’s name. If the school doesn’t have a bank account in its name then it needs to open a bank account in the name of : <Your School name> with State Bank of India or with a nationalized bank or with a bank having CBS (Core Banking Solution) facility.
Question - Can the schools change their Bank Account Details?
Answer - No, the school cannot change their bank account details once the grant has been sanctioned. However, in case of an emergency the school can send a formal mail to atlhelp-niti@nic.in explaining the situation.

PFMS/DARPAN/PAN/UDISE Queries

Question - Can Atal Innovation Mission please help us with the PMFS submission process?
Answer - The selected schools have been sent a detailed mail with a PFMS tutorial video. The link for this video is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvpEFwlECZU
The PFMS team can be contacted at 1800-118-111 (Toll Free). Schools can also visit the PFMS website at https://pfms.nic.in/static/NewLayoutCommonContent.aspx?RequestPagename=Static/ContactUs.aspx
Question - Our school has completed the PMFS registration but we have not received the username and password. When will we receive it?
Answer - Please visit the PMFS website or call their toll free number at 1800-118-111 for clarifications.
Link- https://pfms.nic.in/Static/ContactUs.aspx
Question - Which schools need to use DARPAN ID while registering?
Answer - The schools run by NGO should get the DARPAN ID of their parent NGO. If their parent NGO has not registered with DARPAN then they are required to register their NGO with DARPAN Portal and once DARPAN ID is generated, the same and NGO’s PAN Number is to be submitted by School while registering with PFMS on their School Name.

ATL Documentation Queries

Question - What are the documents that have to be uploaded and sent to AIM?
Answer - The list of the documents along with complete instructions have been mailed to the selected schools on their registered email-id. The link for this list of documents is - http://aimapp2.aim.gov.in/atldocument/documents.php
Question - Is it mandatory that the Agency name and School’s name on the bank account should match?
Answer - Yes, it is mandatory that the agency name and the school’s name on the bank account must match.
Question - Is there a concession in area for hilly regions and islands? Should schools submit a letter stating the same?
Answer - Schools in hilly region/islands can avail a space concession with the minimum requirement brought down to 1000 sq. ft. for these schools. The schools need to clarify this by stating that they are located in a hilly region/island and need a space concession on the Letter of Principal.

ATL In-charge

Question - Can a school appoint multiple ATL in-charges?
Answer - No, the school can appoint only one ATL in-charge and the honorarium of Rs. 5000 per month will be allotted to that ATL in-charge. However, other individuals can provide support to the ATL in-charge. The appointment of the ATL in-charge is to be done at the discretion of the school.
Question - Who can the school appoint as an ATL in-charge?
Answer - The schools can use their discretion while appointing ATL in-charge. The school must ensure that the person appointed as the ATL in-charge is competent enough to understand the equipment being used in the ATL and mentor the students about the same. He/she should also be motivated and willing to learn more about the technologies being used in the ATL. The educational background of the ATL in-charge is not important as long as the above conditions are met. The ATL in-charge can be exclusive for the ATL or can be a subject teacher as well; this is up to the school’s discretion.

ATL Management - Vendors & Procurement

Question - How can the schools select a vendor from the suggestive list of vendors? Can schools purchase the instruments of same specifications from other vendors than approved if prices are lower?
Answer - A indicative list of vendors have been announced by NITI Aayog. However, this list is neither exhaustive nor mandatory, it is indicative and suggestive. Schools can procure material from other sources as well according to convenience, quality and pricing. This decision can be taken at the school’s discretion. We would suggest that the school does thorough due diligence before selecting a vendor. The schools can contact multiple vendors before finalizing one; they can also contact schools with existing Atal Tinkering Labs to get a review of the vendors and then take an informed decision. Please note that the vendors mentioned in the indicative list have agreed to the following:
  • To provide two years of comprehensive warranty at no additional cost for all equipment including 3D printers, as well as replacement of equipment during repair.
  • To provide training on handling and usage of equipment at school at no additional cost.
  • To provide three years of comprehensive AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract) at no additional cost.
  • To provide all indicative equipment in the suggested quantity within Rs.7 lakhs.
Question - Where can we find the suggestive list of vendors?
Answer - The suggestive list of vendors has been mailed to all selected schools. The schools can access their registered e-mail IDs to find the list.

Setting up the ATL

Question - Is It necessary to have WI-FI/Broadband connection for the ATL Lab? Will the vendors help in setting up the lab?
Answer - Yes, ATL must have working internet connection. No, It is the responsibility of the school to set up the lab. The grant money cannot be used to pay to vendors for setting up the lab. Vendors shall only be providing the equipment for the same.
Question - How to schedule curriculum for ATL activities for various classes?
Answer - The school can utilize zero periods/class teacher’s period for dedicated sessions. They can use block periods for continuous lab sessions – this would help provide the students ample time to work at a stretch. Make a time table for after school hours for school students and similarly, students from other schools to use the ATL.
Question - Can the schools change the Email Id that they have registered with Atal innovation Mission?
Answer - Yes, the schools can change their registered Email Id. The concerned school needs to send a formal mail from their new email Id to atlhelp-niti@nic.in requesting for a change of their old email id and stating the reason for the same. Please mention your school name and Unique Id in all such mails.

Mentor of Change

Question - How to apply for the Mentor of Change at Atal Innovation Mission?
Answer - Schools and Individuals can apply as a mentor for Atal Tinkering Labs on voluntary basis. A aspiring ATL mentor is required to register themselves as a #MentorOfChange with Atal Innovation Mission. The website link is http://aim.gov.in/mentor.php .Further instructions are mentioned on the website.
Question - Who can apply as a Mentor of Change at the Atal Innovation Mission?
Answer - Atal Innovation Mission is looking for leaders who can spend 1 – 2 hours every week in one or more ATL labs and enable students to experience, learn and practice future skills such as design and computational thinking.
The mentors are expected to be enablers rather than instructors and should be able to contribute to one or more of the following or related areas -
  • Technical Know-how: building prototypes,
  • Innovation and Design: inculcating solution oriented approach,
  • Inspirational: leadership and self-motivation, and
  • Business and Entrepreneurship: encouraging ideas and team building
  • Sounding board / guide, break stereotypes and bias to bring about mind set and behavioral change
For more information please visit http://aim.gov.in/mentor.php

ATL Community Engagement

Question - Is the ATL accessible to students and participants outside the school? Is it possible for an NGO to tie up with a school for ATL?
Answer - If any students from the nearby schools or the community are interested in accessing the ATL or working with the students of the concerned school then the ATL school must permit them to do so. The schools are not allowed to charge anyone for accessing the ATLs.
Yes, it is possible for any external organization including NGOs to partner with a school hosting an ATL. However, no financial transactions of any kind are allowed from the ATL grant.

SIX ZONES

North Zones:

  • J&K
  • Punjab
  • Haryana
  • Himachal Pradesh
  • Uttarakhand
  • Chandigarh
  • Delhi
  • Uttar Pradesh

North eastern zones:

  • Arunachal Pradesh
  • Assam
  • Mizoram
  • Manipur
  • Nagaland
  • Tripura
  • Meghalaya
  • Sikkim

eastern zones:

  • Bihar
  • Jharkhand
  • WB
  • Odisha

central zone:

  • Chattisgarh
  • Madhya Pradesh

west:

  • Rajasthan
  • Gujarat
  • Dadra & Nagar Haveli
  • Maharashtra
  • Goa
  • Daman Diu

south zones:

  • Andaman & Nicobar Islands
  • Puducherry
  • Telengana
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Karnataka
  • Kerela
  • Tamil nadu