LOK SABHA

The areas identified by the Government for the use of science and technology in the development of the country include drinking water for household use, decentralized energy generation, security technology, biofarming techniques, medicinal and aromatic plants, natural resources management, nutrition related diseases, women technology parks, rural technology parks, health and sanitation, technology systems for non-edible oils, technology interventions for elderly, value addition in non-timber forest produces, sericulture. The government has implemented the National Bamboo Mission Applications (NBMA) which has developed and demonstrated a vast array of technologies and applications.

Primarily the focus of societal projects supported by the Ministry has been referencing of technologies to the societal contexts in which the technologies need to perform. These projects include themes and programmes covering activities leading to upliftment of rural people, including SC, ST, women and weaker sections of society.

In the Eleventh Plan, the Government has put particular emphasis on some impact making programmes on water, energy, nutritional security, value added utilization of regional and local resources, etc. The Ministry of Science and Technology has successfully developed an algorithm whereby monitoring of crops on weekly basis using biomass index has become possible. The Government has also facilitated development of cost-effective technologies for use of rural entrepreneurs to earn their livelihood.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences (Independent charges), PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question by Shri Jai Prakash Agarwal, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur and Shri K.J.S.P. Reddy in the Lok Sabha today.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : July 15, 2009