Lok Sabha Question No. 783 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Technology to solve rural challenges
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Annasaheb Shankar Jolle

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 783 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05/02/2021

Technology to solve rural challenges

## 783.  SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी be pleased to state:

- (a)      the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  utilize  the existing knowledge/technologies to solve rural challenges including the schemes being implemented for the purpose; and
- (b)     whether the best practices have been documented under such schemes/initiatives to use for rural transformation?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी , वान और ौयोगक मंी और पृ वी वान मंी ( डॉ . हष वधन )

- (a)    Ministry  of  Science  &  Technology  (S&T)  has  taken  several  steps  to  motivate scientists and researchers to utilize existing knowledge of S&T processes, tools and technologies to find solutions to solve rural challenges on real time basis being faced by the country to improve quality of life of common man under its schemes/programs for  societal  development.  In  this  direction,  the  Ministry  is  operating  the  following programs/schemes:
1.  Science & Technology for Women
2.  Technological Advancement for Rural Areas (TARA)
3.  Schedule Caste Sub Plan (SCSP)

4.  Tribal Sub Plan (TSP)
5.  Technological Intervention for Addressing Societal Needs (TIASN)
6.  Technology Intervention for Disabled and Elderly (TIDE)
7.  Biotechnology based program for societal development
8.  'CSIR-800' scheme.
9.  Establishing  Science  Technology  and  Innovation  (STI)  Hubs  for  SC/ST population
10.  Agro-Technology Development with the aim to generate knowledge, technologies, products or processes related to agriculture and allied sectors
11.  National Innovation Foundation (NIF )

## Focus of the Schemes:

1.  These  schemes/programs  aim  to  promote  and  support  need  based  S&T interventions  for  livelihood  improvement,  self-employment  generation,  skill development and drudgery reduction among the target population by diffusion of proven and field-tested indigenous and improved technologies at the pilot scale.
2.  These  schemes/program  have  focus  for  development  and  improvement  of indigenous  technologies  to  benefit  rural  and  weaker  communities  which include SC/ST, women, Divyangjan and other backward communities.
3. In this endeavor, researchers and senior scientists working in  R&D Universities,  Academic  Institutes  and  S&T  capable  Voluntary  Organizations are  encouraged  to  develop/improve  indigenous  technologies  to  address issues  and  challenges  of society particularly  to  improve  the  quality  of  life, solve real time social issues in rural areas.
4.  The broad focused areas supported under these schemes/programs include agriculture and animal husbandry including post-harvest processing, integrated  farming  system,  renewable  energy  application,  entrepreneurship development,  Engineering  and  Allied  Aspects  (Construction,  Leather  and Craft  relatedtechnologies),  Training  and  Skill  Development,  Drinking  Water and Sanitation, bio-resource utilization for sustainable development linked to hygiene and nutrition as well.

5.  Many  innovative  technologies  have  been  incubated  by  National  Innovation Foundation  (NIF),an  autonomous  body  of  the  Department  of  Science  and Technology (DST), Government of India to scouts, document, incubate and disseminate innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge which addresses the challenges of agriculture, health, veterinary and in rural areas to improve the quality of life and address the problem of livelihoods security.
6.  NIF and DST are jointly implementing the INSPIRE Awards - MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge), wherein one million school  students  are  targeted  for  attracting  ideas  and  innovations  annually. During 2020-21, a total of 6.53 lakh ideas and innovations were scouted from all  States and UT's of the country and 84.59% of participating schools were based in rural areas of the country.

Significant achievements to address Rural Challenges:

Several novel and/or adaptive technologies have been developed & deployed by S&T capable NGOs  to improve the quality of life of common man in rural areas like:-

1.  Community-owned  &  community-operated  affordable  safe  water  solution powered by solar energy for use in Bundelkhand region;
2.  Enamel  coated  forced-draft  improved  biomass  cookstove  developed  by SPRERI, Gujarat;
3.  Hands free and Automatic sanitation system developed by DA, New Delhi;
4.  Foundry waste-based paver blocks technology by DA, New Delhi;
5.  Water Quality Monitoring System Architecture and Device National Institute of Technology (NIT), Puducherry;
6.  Portable,  wireless  light  system  for  rural  India  by  University  of  Petroleum Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun
7.  Low cost,  portable  laboratory  workbench  for  providing  science  education  to school children in rural areas developed by Chandigarh University, Chandigarh;
8.  Low-cost carding machine for Namda Weavers of Tonk, Rajasthan developed by Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC) Nalanda

9.  Food Processing Technology using Solar Dehydration Technology to produce value added fruit bars/rolls, and formulation of nutritional supplements(drinks/powder)  from  locally  grown  fruits  &  vegetables,  millets and/or pulses to address prevalent nutritional issues of Geriatric Population; Pregnant & Lactating mothers & to the School going children;
10.  Rice  De-husking  machine  &  Domestic  Egg  Incubator;  &Livelihood  related technologies suitable for Arid/Desert Regions among others.

To  strengthen  such  initiatives  for  societal  benefits,  continuous  efforts  are being  made  by  the  Government  to  identify  the  new  and  emerging  thrust  areas through brainstorming workshops involving various stakeholders to promote academic and scientific research for evolving affordable & sustainable technologies to address rural challenges.

(b)      The  best  practices  of  these  initiatives  are  recorded  in  the  form  of  Final Technical Report, which is further evaluated through a well-established monitoring mechanism  for  each  scheme/program.  The  technologies  having  potential  for  rural transformation are being replicated through Coordinated Network Programs for wider geographical reach and large-scale development of communities at grassroots level, particularly in rural areas. The best practices are made available through following portals: -

1.       Best  practices  in  terms  of  promising  technologies  related  to  rural  application and transformation have been captured and put on www.dsttara.in with technology delivery & adoption details at the community level in diverse rural milieu.

2.       The  ideas  and  innovations  of  the  creative  people  from  rural  areas  of  the country are documented on an innovation portal (www.innovation.nif.org.in) comprising  of  1.15  lakh  ideas  and  innovations  covering  Engineering,  Agriculture, Veterinary and Human Health.

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