Lok Sabha Question No. 2130 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Research and Vocational Programmes
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Bhojraj Nag

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2130 ANSWERED ON 12/03/2025

## RESEARCH AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMMES

†2130. Shri Bhojraj Nag:

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

- (a) whether  any  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  develop research and vocational programmes to provide higher level education and skilled employment opportunities to the marginalized and backward classes; and
- (b) if so, the details 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) to (b): Ministry of Science and Technology has taken several initiatives to develop research programmes to provide higher level education and skilled employment  opportunities to the marginalized and backward  classes. Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  supports  development  of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST), marginalized and backward communities by establishing research facilities, organizing training programmes  on emerging technologies and sophisticated instruments, providing research grants to young scientists, and supporting S&T projects in agriculture & allied, health, energy, water & sanitation, skill development, and livelihood  sectors.  School  children  are  also  motivated  through  various programmes  to  innovate  in  science  and  technology  and  pursue  higher education  in  science.  These  initiatives  have  positive  impact  on  socioeconomic development of SC & ST by adopting technology-driven solutions, entrepreneurship and building STI capacity. Major schemes & programmes of
- DST are as follows:
- A. Scheduled  Castes  Sub  Plan  (SCSP)  and  Tribal  Sub  Plan  (TSP)  DST  has supported around 500 S&T projects during the last two decades in different

states in diverse areas of agriculture, resource management, microenterprise development, art & craft, post-harvest technologies, health and nutrition, engineering and allied aspects, training and skill development,  drinking  water  and  sanitation,  and  energy  to  improve  the quality  of  life  of  SC/ST  communities.  In  addition,  following  activities  are being performed to achieve the desired objectives:

-  A coordinated programme on People and Protected Areas (PPA) is being implemented to deal with complex issues related to conservation and livelihoods, in the forest fringe areas and around protected areas/wild life sanctuaries in 17 states through a network of 17 NGOs by promoting sitespecific interventions and use of affordable and viable technologies for livelihood augmentation, as well as conservation of natural resources.
-  45 Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs have been established in different regions of the country for holistic development of Scheduled Caste  (SC)  and  Scheduled  Tribe  (ST)  Communities  through  systemic interventions. These STI Hubs develop, nurture and ensure the development, improvement and delivery of appropriate and relevant STI approaches for equitable inclusive growth of the SC and ST population through creation of sustainable livelihoods and improving the quality of life in tune to their growing aspirations.
-  11  Scheduled  Caste  (SC)/Schedule  Tribe  Cells  are  being  supported  in different States for mapping (gathering) information on livelihood system (weakest linkages and strengths), local and indigenous knowledge and ingesting  it  with  technological  information  to  help  in  development  of specific  strategies  for  development  of  target  beneficiaries  and  define policies for implementation. These cells are helping in dissemination and last mile delivery of interventions.
-  Heritage Food and Beverage Research Centre for Research on Ethnic Foods of Tribals of NE and ST Community Centre of Bio resources for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship has been established at Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati.
-  A  Coastal  Fisheries  Information  Hub  (first  of  its  kind  in  Car  Nicobar Islands) has been established for augmenting livelihood, resilience and knowledge generation through strengthening of local knowledge systems, sustainable climate resilient fishing, coastal conservation and community fishing approach.
-  The collaborative project 'CRISPR mediated genetic correction of Sickle Cell disease towards clinical trials in a small patient cohort' has been implemented to develop a permanent cure for Sickle Cell Disease (CSD) with extensive benefits of improving the standard of life of SCD patients using gene editing technologies.
-  The programme on 'Accelerated Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal  Groups  (PVTGs)'  complements  the  National  PVTG  Mission announced by Union Government in March 2023 by developing sustainable STI solutions to addresses the vulnerabilities faced by the 75 PVT Groups.

- B. Technology Interventions for Disabled and Elderly (TIDE) Programme had a wider  perspective  of  Scientific  Research,  Design  and  Development  of affordable  and  adaptable  Science  and  Technological  (S&T)  solutions  for providing greater autonomy to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and Elderly. The grant-in-aid support for Research and Development (R&D) in Assistive Technology (AT),  Design  and  Development of  Prototypes,  Processes  and Protocols,  Validation,  Large  Scale  Field  Trials,  Scaling  up  etc  has  been given for around 150 projects.
- C. Science  &  Technology  for  Women  (STW)  programme  through  its  Women Technology Parks (WTP) aim to improve the weakest  link of the predominant livelihood  system  of  women  in  an  area  and  promote  social entrepreneurship and women employment based on the strongest link of the  livelihood  system  through  interventions  of  Science,  Technology  and Innovations. Around 40 WTPS have been established and 150 projects have been  supported  to  develop  technologies  for  the  addressing  the  issues related to women.
- D. Strengthening,  Upscaling  &  Nurturing  Innovations  for  Livelihood  (SUNIL) programme supports NGOs and Knowledge Institutions (KIs) in partnership for improving the S&T knowledge, skill enhancement, capacity building and socio-economic conditions of the community through networking network programmes.  8  projects  have  been  supported  for  S&T  based  solutions through applied research for socio-economic development of Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
- E. Under  Science  and  Technology  Human  Capacity  Building  programmes, awards were provided to 21,087 ST students during last 5 years, under the Inspire Awards-MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge),  a  national  programme  to  promote  'Original  ideas'  having potential  to  address  societal  needs  through  Science  &  Technology especially  in  context  of  National  flagship  Programes  such  as  Swachh Bharat, Digital India, Swasth Bharat, Make in India, Energy, Environment, Sanitation etc. An award of Rs. 10,000/- is provided to each beneficiary.
- F. Under  Strengthening  of  R&D  Infrastructure  program,  hands-on  training programmes cum sensitization on the state-of-the-art equipment, use and application of various instruments and analytical techniques organized NIT, Agartala  and  IIT  (ISM),  Dhanbad  under  the  program  STUTI  (Synergistic Training program Utilizing the Scientific and Technological Infrastructure) benefitted 10000 tribal researchers/students.

Fund  for  Improvement  of  S&T  Infrastructure  in  Universities  and  Higher Educational Institutions were provided to The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh to augment the R&D infrastructure  facilities  so  as  to  attract  good  researchers  from  tribal community  in  the  country  and  sustain  their  research  need  as  well  as competitiveness with reference to global context.

- G.  Under NM-ICPS, about 30 labs/experience centers established to provide students with opportunities for continuous learning and hands-on practice. Divyasampark  IHUB  Roorkee  trained  17,409  students  under  the  TSP Program for Devices Materials and Technology Foundation. Approx. 46,974 number of beneficiaries trained under skill development programme of Inter Cyber Physical Systems.

The Drone Didi Workshop, organized under the 'Digital Agri Village' project at  IIT  Bhilai,  showcased  the  innovative  use  of  drones  in  precision agriculture.  The  workshop  included  live  demonstrations  of  drone-based spraying, seed sowing, and other agricultural practices, with participation from over 100 women.

- H.  Under  Anusandhan  National  Research  Foundation  (ANRF),  Inclusivity Research Grant (IRG), erstwhile EMEQ Scheme provides funding support to around 125 researchers every year belonging to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe to undertake research in frontier areas of science and engineering.
- I.  National  Initiative  for  Developing  and  Harnessing  Innovations  (NIDHI)  Inclusive Technology Business Incubators (iTBIs) scheme
3.  NIDHI iTBI centers provides financial support, mentorship, and access to resources that empowers startups, entrepreneurs and individuals from underserved backgrounds especially SC/ST to transform their innovative ideas into viable businesses. The program emphasizes skill development, community  engagement,  and  collaboration  with  various  stakeholders, ensuring  that  marginalized  groups  can  contribute  meaningfully  to  the economy.
4.  NIDHI-iTBIs are established in Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities specially in regions which do not have the desired innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on inclusiveness in terms of geographic, gender, persons with special abilities and marginalized communities.
5.  48 NIDHI Inclusive TBIs have been established in academic setups to extend  incubation  and  mentoring  support  to  innovative  startups  in various  technology  domains.  The  startups  supported  by  these  NIDHI iTBIs  provide  innovative  solutions  addressing  local  problems  having significant societal impact on the nearby regions, including underserved communities.
6.  Additionally, under Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) based training programmes, 23498 beneficiaries have been trained through the funds sanctioned  to  around  317  organizations  in  the  country  during  last  5 years.

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