GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2833
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18-12-2006

R&D INSTITUTIONS AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY FOR WELFARE OF RURAL AREAS

2833. SHRI BALAVANT ALIAS BAL APTE:
SHRI SHREEGOPAL VYAS:

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

(a) whether the public funded R&D institutions and the scientific community are not adequately responding to the needs of rural areas;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to improve the response of R&D institutions and scientific community towards welfare of rural areas?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) to (c): No, Sir. The government has several schemes related to societal development to catalyze and support research, development and adaptation of relevant and appropriate technologies for empowering and improving the quality of life in rural areas. Technology institutions /R&D laboratories function as a source of relevant technologies and models which are implemented in rural areas through voluntary agencies and other institutions. Sometimes there is a time lag in new technology to reach the rural areas. The impact of the programmes has been felt in local areas. However due to inadequacy of funds and other resources for such programmes, large scale dissemination has suffered. Inspite of constraints many models and local level technologies have been developed and are being practiced. Some of the proven technologies/packages are--

• Fruit/vegetable processing and preservation for value addition at village level with quality control. Model is working at 23 locations in the country,
  
• Agro technologies for cultivation/semi processing of high value medicinal plants by women,
  
• Drier for coconut gratings; paper and biomass based drier for horticulture produce,
  
• Techniques of Dehydration of flowers,
  
• Biofertilizers eg. Azolla, BGA,
  
• Development of wool carding machine,
  
• Ergonomically suitable tools/equipments for use by women in sericulture,
  
• Fish Aggregation Devices (FAD) for coastal fisher folk,
  
• Technology package for low-temperature glazing for making red clay pottery and many units are in operation especially in Kanyakumari area,
  
• Low-cost diagnostic medical kits for urinary tract infections,
  
• Setting up of bio villages,
  
• Setting up of 16 Women Technology Parks and 5 Rural Technology Parks as an integrated model for technology dissemination,
  
• Biogas plants using spoilt grains, fruits, etc. for small restaurants/dhabas. 500 units have been installed in Maharashtra,
• Water filter ultrafine membrane capable of removing bacteria and virus without use of electricity,
  
• Non pressurized sarai cooker using charcoal which takes 40 minutes for complete cooking. This is under commercial production,
  
• Standardization of tissue culture techniques for producing disease free banana in Sundarban delta. 4 lakhs plantlets have been sold by trained women group,
  
• Lac extraction and processing machines is being popularized in lac producing area of Jharkhand,
  
• Technology for low-cost sanitary napkins has been developed and disseminated,
  
• Upgradation of watermills with multipurpose use for generating electricity in remote mountain regions of Uttaranchal, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and North-East. About 2000 watermills have been upgraded.
  
• Centres established in underserved and underdeveloped areas to investigate and find solutions to health problems of local populations.
  
• Extramural projects for studying the health conditions and diseases of tribals,
  
• Research directed towards poverty driven diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy, malaria, filariasis and visceral leishmaniasis.
  
• 670 water filters capable of removing virus have been installed in many rural areas. The technology was developed by CSIR.