Annual Report 2004-2005

Societal Programmes

Science and Society Programme of Department of Science and Technology is a unique programme to apply S&T based solutions to need based problems for socio-economic upliftment of the weaker sections of the community. This programme supports S&T based NGOs/ S&T institutions/Colleges/Universities throughout the country to take up innovative grant in aid projects in challenging areas at the grassroot level with various schemes targeted for different sections of the society to address location and occupation specific problems for enhancing livelihood options. The major focus of the programme is to catalyze and support research, development and adaptation of relevant and appropriate technologies for empowering and improving quality of life of Artisans, Landless labour, in rural areas with individual schemes (STARD, STAWS, S&T for women, Young Scientists-Societal Programme, SCP, TSP). Programme emphasizes to evolve and demonstrate replicable models of S&T-based development for benefit of disadvantaged sections by making suitable linkages with national S&T institutions, R&D laboratories and financial institutions so as to promote integration of these models with wider developmental processes. Major achievements made under various schemes are listed below:

This programme is being implemented at different levels to address multiple needs of the society.

Core Support to Science and Technology based Field Groups

Core support was extended to eleven voluntary organizations for need based S&T interventions. The support is being utilized by each field group to nurture and sustain scientific manpower to take up challenges to work on issues/problems requiring S&T inputs for enhancing sustainable livelihoods in rural areas. These groups, working in different geographical locations, have major focus on rural resource management through technology based micro-watershed development; low cost bio-control & bio-fertilizer production; development of computerized village information support system; application of improved and sustainable agriculture practices with post harvest processing for value addition; rural housing and renewable energy to address the problems being faced by small and marginal farmers & traditional artisans through appropriate technological solutions. With participatory and systems management approach, each group is also engaged in strengthening local skills and knowledge to revive traditional occupations like pottery, black smithy and other rural engineering sectors by working on R & D aspects by exploring proper linkages and support from S & T Institutions/Laboratories.

Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS), a science based field group is making efforts to explore and develop the contemporary relevance and applications of traditional Indian knowledge systems. CIKS is involved in organizing and involving local farmers to establish community seed bank by providing proper technical know how about the diversity of traditional varieties and their importance from conservation point of view. This group has been able to conserve 63 varieties of ten different types of vegetables like brinjal, pumpkin and bitter gourd. The group is also engaged in developing a system for pest management in cotton covering different agro-climatic zones of Tamilnadu.

Individual Projects

A number of interdisciplinary projects are being implemented in different parts of the rural India by S&T based voluntary organizations as well as institutions engaged in the area of rural engineering, health & sanitation, improved agricultural practices including post harvest processing, land, biomass and water management and animal husbandry etc. Each project has distinct focus on developing and designing of appropriate technology and management system for capacity building and technological empowerment of rural community. During the year, six projects were completed. Highlights of the progress made under some of the projects are given below:

• Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, Gujarat is currently working on the development of a cost effective electrodialysis (ED) system for desalination of sea water. The first system will be installed at Gogha village situated on a sea coast in Bhavnagar. Inter-polymer & ion exchange membranes with better life performance will be developed and field tried. An EDR protocol incorporating solenoid valves and reversible switches suitable will be utilized (Figure 5.1).

• Integrated fish farming technology for fish-cum poultry, fish-duckery, fish-cum-dairy, fish-cum prawn & fish-cum-social forestry has been optimized and developed by Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation (LHWRF), Bharatpur as per local conditions & needs to benefit fish farmers of semi arid and wet regions of Bharatpur District Rajasthan. The project has, so far, helped 68 fish farmers for year round income generation by adopting scientific management practices and better resource utilization for better biological pond productivity, recycling of bio-waste efficiently, and value addition ensuring proper marketing linkages.
• To provide better employment in rural areas, a project “Sustainable Livelihoods through Innovative application of Science & Technology: Handmade Paper & Products Micro-enterprise” is being implemented by Society for Integrated Sustainable Development, Kanpur. This group is developing appropriate technology package for down-scaled handmade paper unit for making value added paper & paper products in eco-friendly way.

Rural Technology Parks (RTP)

A Rural Technology Park (RTP) has been set-up in Umran, Meghalaya by S&T based field group namely BOSCO Reach Out Society. This RTP is providing demonstration and training, ensuring backward and forward linkages on need based selected technologies; developing location specific technologies and promoting rural entrepreneurship amongst mountain community in and around project areas (Figures 5.2a and 5.2b). Capacity building and skill training of people, convergence of income generating activities and creation of sustainable livelihood through the structure by people’s institution are major and critical components of the RTP to address the location specific needs.

Technology Intervention in Mountain Ecosystem (TIME)

A project was implemented by ARPAN, Pithoragarh to empower mountain community in some selected villages of Kumaon hills by introducing water conservation technologies including training of local community in construction, repair and maintenance. Local masons have been able to adopt this technology. The efforts are expected to reduce the problem of water scarcity in the project area.

During the year, following projects were supported having focus on technology development/ modulation as per location specific needs followed by transfer and adoption of appropriate technology packages:

• Development of an eco-friendly dyeing process using natural mordants.
• Design of vertical shaft brick kiln to improve the socio-economic, environment condition of the Tamirabarani river belt brick kiln and dissemination of the technology.
  
• Design optimization, fabrication and testing of energy efficient tools for power tillers.
• Studies on the Environmentally Mediated disabilities among children and its control for the improvement of rural health in Kerala.
  
• Establishment of eco-friendly and viable food processing units in Haldwani, Kotabagh and Ramnagar blocks of Nainital district of Uttaranchal.
  
• Testing and propagation of methods based on Vrkshayurveda (traditional Indian plant science) for the cultivation of selected vegetables.
• Eco-physiological and socio-economic studies on two selected medicinally important herbs from NCT Delhi region.
  
• Management of solid waste created from religious tourism at Gangotri and its utilization for bio-fertilizer development and employment generation.
  
• Feasibility study to upgrade and organize rural blacksmiths with S&T input to facilitate the local farmers to increase their productivity with the help of improved tools and equipments.
  
• Technology improvement, production and distribution of low-cost biological inputs for small farm clusters through bio-resources mart.
  
• Development of medium density fibre boards as wood substitute from banana stem waste.

BIOFARM - New Coordinated Programme

‘Biological Integration of Farming Activities & Resource Management’ (BIOFARM)- a coordinated programme, has been initiated at 15 locations involving science and technology based field groups from different agro-climatic regions. This program will endeavour to develop a set of packages/models for small farms which can be used to ameliorate not only the productivity in respective agro-ecosystems but would also improve the nutritional and livelihood status of the farm households.