Lok Sabha Question No. 133 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: S&T Support to Rural and Weaker Communities
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.133 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/12/2018

## S&T SUPPORT TO RURAL AND WEAKER COMMUNITIES

- *133.  DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  instituted  any  organisation/nodal  agency  to  provide  and coordinate science and technology (S&T) support to rural and weaker communities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the amount allocated and spent during each of the last three years for application of S&T for the weaker sections in the country;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  motivate  scientists  and  research  fellows  for applying knowledge for the promotion of weaker communities; and
- (e) if so, the initiatives taken by the Government in this regard so far?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ, {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {ÉªÉÉÇ´É®hÉ, ´ÉxÉ A´ÉÆ VÉãÉ´ÉÉªÉÖ {ÉÉÊ®´ÉiÉÇxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

- (a) to (e):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.133 FOR 19/12/2018 REGARDING S&T SUPPORT TO RURAL AND WEAKER COMMUNITIES

- (a) & (b): No, Madam. However, Ministry of Science & Technology has been supporting projects for the benefit of the rural and weaker communities which include SC/ST, women, Divyangjan and other  backward  communities  through  their  societal  development  programmes.  The  programmes aim  to  promote  and  support  Science  and  Technology  inputs  for  livelihood  improvement,  selfemployment generation, skill development and drudgery reduction among the target population by diffusion of proven and field-tested technologies. The broad focused areas supported under these programmes include agriculture and animal husbandry including fish farming, poultry farming, pig production, goat  farming, value added  products,  floriculture,  hybrid  seed production, integrated farming system, entrepreneurship development, bio-resource utilization for sustainable development, development of assistive devices for divyangs, women and child health, hygiene and nutrition.
- (c) The amount allocated and spent during each of the last 3 years for application of S&T for the weaker sections in the country are as follows:
- (d) & (e):  Yes, Madam. Ministry of Science & Technology has taken steps to motivate scientists and researchers for applying knowledge of S&T processes, tools and technologies for promotion of the rural, SC/ST, women and weaker communities under its programmes for societal development. In this direction, the Ministry is operating the following programmes/schemes:

| Year    |   Budget (Rupees crores) Allocated |   Spent (Rupees in crores) |
|---------|------------------------------------|----------------------------|
| 2015-16 |                             182.48 |                     151.65 |
| 2016-17 |                             184.45 |                     131.1  |
| 2017-18 |                             189.86 |                     138.51 |

- o KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement through Research Advancement through Nurturing)

- o Science & Technology for Women

- o Schedule Caste Sub Plan

- o Tribal Sub Plan

- o Technology Intervention for Disabled and Elderly (TIDE)

- o Biotechnology based programme for societal development.

- o 'CSIR-800' scheme.

Besides,  State  Councils  for  S&T  are  also  encouraging  location specific  solutions  for  the upliftment of weaker section through S&T intervention.

For motivating Scientists to work on woman issues, National Awards for Women's Development through Application of Science & Technology has been instituted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).  While, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has instituted Biotechnology Social Development Award for recognizing the contribution of not only an individual scientist but also the organization who is working towards upliftment of rural and weaker communities.

********