Lok Sabha Question No. 496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: STI Hubs
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: D.K. Suresh

- (a)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 496 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1/12/2021

## STI HUBS

## 496. SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY िव²ान और ÿौīोिगकì मंýी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government proposes to set up Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs in different parts of the country for Scheduled Tribes (STs) by the end of 2022;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the salient features of the STI Hubs proposed to be set up for STs;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  earmarked  any  funds  for  the  said program; and
- (e) if  so, the details thereof along with the targets fixed to be achieved under the program?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE

AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ तथा पृ Øवी ͪव£ान मंğालय क े राÏय मंğी ( èवतंğ Ĥभार) (डॉ . िजतɅġ ͧसंह)

- Yes Sir.
- (b) The  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  had  already initiated  this  programme  during  2019-2020  for  holistic  development  of Scheduled  Caste  (SC)  and  Scheduled  Tribe  (ST)  Communities  through systemic interventions by establishing Science Technology and

Innovation (STI) Hubs in different regions of the country. Seven STI Hubs for  ST  were  already  established  during  the  last  two  years  in  different regions of the country. The details of these STI Hubs and their activities are given in Annexure-I.

- (c) The  STI  Hubs  will  develop,  nurture  and  ensure  the  delivery  of appropriate and relevant technologies for inclusive socio-economic development  through  creation  of  sustainable  livelihoods  for  the  ST population in tune to their growing  aspirations with the following objectives:
- (i)  Address  the  weakest linkages  in the predominant livelihood systems through Science & Technology (S&T) interventions.
- (ii)  Creation  of  social  enterprises  based  on  the  strengths  in  livelihood systems.
- (iii)  Improve  the  Indigenous  Knowledge Systems (IKS) through inputs of S&T for strengthening the livelihoods.
- (d) & (e)  The expenditure for establishing STI Hubs would be met from the budget allocated under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) Component of DST.

## ANNEXURE-I

## Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs for Scheduled Tribes (ST)

|   Sl. No. | Project Title and Details of Implementing Organization                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Details of STI Hubs/Activities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | STI Hub in Sidho-Kanho- Birsha University, Purulia, West Bengal for the Socioeconomic Upliftment of ST Communities of Eastern Region West Bengal, Jharkhand Odisha through Science and Technology Intervention Prof. SubrataRaha, Department of Botany, SidhoKanhoBirsha University, Ranchi Road, Purulia, West Bengal - 723 104. | The Hub is catering to 34 villages belonging to 15 blocks of 7 districts of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. 1526 beneficiaries so far have been covered under the project. The major issues being addressed are: (1) Provision of safe drinking water (technologies for filtering, manufacturing of candles using nano materials) (2) Technologies related to aquaculture (3) Production of Aromatic oils (Lemon grass oil extraction) (4) Manufacturing of low cost sanitary napkins (5) Establishment of germplasm ( Bixa sp., Cymbopogon , medicinal plants etc)/mushroom spawn etc to develop niche products. (6) Women Health and Hygiene As on date, 48 awareness, 22 training and 10 skill development programs have been carried out with training of 305 ST persons and employment of 11 youth. 22 Forest wood pickers have been converted into farmers. 450 households with 2296 persons have access to Clean and Safe Drinking Water. 485families with 1410 persons have access to Health care facilities/Improved Nutrition. Several Technology user Group have been formed and |
|         2 | Science Technology and Innovation Hub for development of Scheduled Tribe in MedchalMalkajgiri district of Telangana state Dr. Suresh Merugu, CMR College of                                                                                                                                                                       | they have opened bank accounts. The Hub is operating in Yellampet, Pudur, Ravalkole, Kistapur and Rajbollaram villages ofMedchal Mandal of MedchalMalkajgiri district of Telangana State covering a total of 854 households. The STI Hub is providing technical services that include continuous R&D activities, Product development, Re-engineering, testing facilities, Quality assurance and Market Research, Workshops and Capacity Building                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |

|    | Engineering and Technology, Medchal (D), Hyderabad - 501 404                                                                                                                                                                                                    | programmes for ST Communities related to the project as well as any other problems that arise and need to be solved through technological interventions. The hubs isalso facilitating grants and capital, networking and other technical resources to incubate some of the viable technologies. The Hub is also providing agricultural extension services (market linkages, weather advisory services, organic certification system etc) and capacity building of drop-out youth. Some of the technologies introduced through the programme are: Dual mode groundnut pod stripper, smart fencing system to protect agriculture, invasive plant cutter, smart crop and water management and smart agro sprayer. These have resulted in drudgery reduction, solving human-wildlife conflict and better management of resources. 213 manpower has been trained so far under the project. Five Common Facility Centers created under the program are being used by 650 direct beneficiaries and 3408 indirect beneficiaries. Increase in agricultural productivity in the range of 20-25% with increase in household income to the range of   |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  3 | Science Technology and Innovation Hub in Leh, Leh Block Ladakh District, Ladakh UT Mr. Chander Shekhar Sharma Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), CSIR- IMTECH, Sector- 39A, Chandigarh, Pin-160036 | proposed under the programme. The STI Hub at Ladakh is integrating IT in health diagnostics, and skill development in IT specialized domain. The center is providing local people with digital health access, IoT based PoCD( Point of Care Devices) /e- diagnostics and innovation hub to develop PoC devices prototypes from their own ideas. Further, the STI Hub is working for developing smart diagnostic technologies for transmitting real-time observations to medical experts or also the patient can approach local healthcare facility. The teachers, lecturers, academicians and officials in various departments of Ladakh Government can benefit through training of trainers' initiative of the program. They are being imparted trainings in Data Analytics, Office Automation, and system administration. One such training was held during 6-10 September, 2021.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |

4

5

6

STI hub up-scaling sustainable technological solution and replicable model for ensuring food and nutrition,  livelihood  and social  security  of  ST  in selected Gram Panchayat  of  Kopaput Distt. Of Odisha

Dr. Karthik Lenka Biju Patnaik Tribal AgroBiodiversity Centre, M. S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Jeypore-764002, Koraput district Odisha

Development of Science Technology and innovation Hub: Utilization and adaption of traditional knowledge, resources and technological advances in postharvest management and nutrition for empowering children, women and youth in tribal Meghalaya

Dr. Melari Shisha Nongrum, Martin Luther Christian University, Dong Ktieh, Block 1 ,Nongrah, Shillong-793 006, Meghalaya

Science, Technology and  Innovation  Hub  for

The STI hub is covering 36 villages in the three selected blocks, namely, Boipariguda, Koraput and Kundra of Koraput district in Odisha. The Hub  is  introducing  farm-based  technologies  / interventions  such  as  improved  methods  of agriculture  and  allied  activities,  including  bioinput  production, to help the  ST population to diversify their household income sources. It is Increasing awareness on soil and water management  practices,  restoration  of  village water bodies and adoption of efficient decentralized water use/reuse systems that is likely  to  enhance  the  ground  water  moisture level

The  project  is  getting  implemented  in  Ribhoi and East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya and benefiting  the  ST  Population  of  at  least  200 villages in Umling, Umsning and Myllem blocks. The  STI  Hub  is  being  established at  Umsawli village, Mylliem Block, East Khasi Hills District. The technologies adapted in Hub are aimed at reducing  the  wastage  of  agricultural  produce by  doing  value  addition.  Apart  from  reducing food waste, the unemployed youth and women will be trained and capacity building programmes would be conducted in  a phased manner to enhance their skills so that they can eventually sustain and manage these processing  units.  The  skills  range  from  food processing  to  management  and  marketing  of the units. The food product use local nutritious food crops and are aimed at solving malnutrition problem in children aged 6 months to 1 year, 1 year to 3 years and above 3 years The aim is to have a nano village-based processing unit with unemployed women having  nano  home  based  processing  units  for making these products for the local schools or sale in the communities.

The  project  is  creating  sustainable  livelihood opportunities  for  the  ST  population  belonging

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creating sustainable livelihood  opportunities of  Scheduled  Tribes  in Angara block, Ranchi district, Jharkhand Dr. Avijit Kr. Dutta, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Faculty Centre for Agriculture, Rural and Tribal Development, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Morabadi, Ranchi, Jharkhand (Pin-834 008).

Socio-economic empowerment  and  the tribal people in the Rajaborari estate Madhya Pradesh thorugh scientific and technological intervention

Dr. Anita Lakhani, Dayalbagh Education Institute, Dayalbagh, Agra, Uttar Pradesh to Angara  Block,  Ranchi  District,  Jharkhand. The  Hub  promotes  low-cost  crop  production technologies among the beneficiaries by using on-farm resources and also work towards capacity  building  on  this  particular  aspect  of sustainable farming. Through the proposed technological intervention on low-cost organic production  practice, the farmers  are being encouraged  to  produce  their  own  farm  inputs by  utilizing  locally  available  resources  which will  substantially  reduce  the  input  costs  and more income will be ensured. Besides, farmers may sell surplus inputs to neighboring farmers that  can  be  an  additional  income  source. The project  work  towards  reducing  the  yield  gap between farmer's practice and proven technology  to  be  intervened  by  around  50%. Farmers  are  being  trained  on  organic  inputs preparation, mushroom production, beekeeping,  value  addition  to  farm  produce etc.  to  increase  income  and  create  alternate livelihood options.

The revenue villages namely (Rajaborari, SalaiThekedari and Temrubahar) comprising 10 hamlets  in  Rehatgaon  Block,  Harda  district, Madhya Pradesh State, with total population of select  villages  as  4,683  persons,  of  which, 3,997 persons (85%) belong to Scheduled Tribe Communities (Korku and the Gond tribal groups) are being intervened under the present Hub.  The  project  looks  at  Value  Addition  to Commodities that could be produced/harnessed  from  the  rich  flora  of  the area  (e.g.  corn,  amla,  mango,  etc)  through scientific  and  technological  approaches  and Establishment of Laboratory for testing of Soil, Water and Food Products along-with training of beneficiaries. The aim is to establish a Technology-enabled  Village  Resource  Center for the tribal people for entrepreneurial incubation  and  establishing  sustainable  rural enterprises  especially  in  food  processing  and textiles related enterprises

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