Lok Sabha Question No. 1773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Strengthening, Upscaling & Nurturing Local Innovations for Livelihood Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Kesineni Sivanath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1773 ANSWERED ON 30/07/2025

## STRENGTHENING, UPSCALING & NURTURING LOCAL INNOVATIONS FOR

## LIVELIHOOD SCHEME

## 1773.   SHRI KESINENI SIVANATH:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any project proposals from the State of Andhra Pradesh under the Strengthening, Upscaling & Nurturing Local Innovations  for  Livelihood  (SUNIL)  programme,  if  so,  the  details  thereof including status of approval or implementation;
- (b) the  details  of  the  number  of  Knowledge  Institutions  (KIs)  and  NonGovernmental  Organizations  (NGOs)  that  have  received  support  under  the SUNIL scheme during the last five years, State-wise;
- (c) the  total  funds  allocated  and  disbursed  under  the  SUNIL  programme during the last five years, Year and State-wise, along with details of utilisation by the implementing agencies;
- (d) whether any impact assessment of the said scheme has been conducted to  measure  its  outcomes  on  livelihood  enhancement  and  socio-economic upliftment of EWS communities; and
- (e) if so, the key findings thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पृ थ्िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्ितंत्र प्रभार) ( डॉ. जितेंद्र स ंह )

- (a) Yes.  The  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST),  through  its Science for Equity, Empowerment & Development (SEED) Division, implements the  Strengthening,  Upscaling  &  Nurturing  Innovations  for  Livelihood  (SUNIL) programme. DST received 40 proposals from State of Andhra Pradesh under the recent  'Call  for  proposal'  launched  during  March-April,  2025.  The  proposals received under the call are being evaluated as per the extant process of the Department.
- (b) to (c): Under SUNIL programme, 7 Knowledge Institutions (KI) and 7 Non-Governmental Organizations  (NGOs)  as  project  implementation  partners have  been  supported  during  the  last  five  years.  The  details  of  state-wise

implementing agencies and funds disbursed under the SUNIL programme are as under:

| S. No.           |                                                                                                               |                       | Amount Released (Rs. in Lakhs)   | Amount Released (Rs. in Lakhs)   | Amount Released (Rs. in Lakhs)   |
|------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|                  | State Name                                                                                                    | Implementing KI & NGO | 2023-24                          | 2024- 25                         | State wise Total                 |
| 1. Uttar Pradesh | 1. Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group, Gorakhpur 2. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi                      | 85.95                 | -                                | 85.95                            |                                  |
| 2. Delhi         | 1. Society For Development Alternatives, New Delhi 2. Indian Institute of Education, Pune                     | 64.89608              |                                  | 74.00                            | 138.896                          |
| 3. Uttarakhand   | 1. People's Science Institute, Dehradun 2. ICAR KVK, Dhanauri, Haridwar                                       | 93.975                |                                  | -                                | 93.975                           |
| 4. Maharashtra   | 1. Vigyan Ashram, Pune 2. Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune                                              | 53.6253               |                                  | 40.00                            | 93.6253                          |
| 5. Karnataka     | 1. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad 2. Society for Community Participation & Empowerment, Dharwad | 62.3332               | -                                | 62.3332                          |                                  |
| 6. Tripura       | 1. N B Institute of Rural Technology (NBIRT), Tripura 2. Visva Bharti University, Tripura                     | 77.42759              | 26.00                            | 103.428                          |                                  |
| 7. Rajasthan     | Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur 2. Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS), Jaipur                        | 20.00                 |                                  | 12.64                            | 32.64                            |

DST disbursed an amount of Rs. 610.84Lakhs till date for implementation of these projects and Rs.529.14 Lakhs was utilized by implementing agencies.

(d) to (e): The projects supported under SUNIL programme are monitored regularly  through  Annual  Performance  Review,  Group  Monitoring  Workshops and Field Visits to assess the progress and outcomes. Preliminary feedback from  Expert  Committee,  Implementing  Institutions  &  Principal  Investigators indicates positive outcomes and impact in terms of capacity building and skill enhancement of EWS. Review further suggests enhanced livelihoods opportunities,  income diversification  via  agri-tech  & poultry,  bamboo, waterefficient agriculture, adoption of ergonomically efficient technologies, support to  grassroots  innovations  &  sustainable  S&T  based  rural  enterprises  in implemented areas.

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