Objectives --> Catalyse and support research, development and adaptation of relevant and appropriate technologies for empowering and improving quality of life of Artisans, Landless Labour, Women, SC/ST and other disadvantaged sections, particularly in rural areas --> Preserve and upgrade skills of traditional artisans as “natural carriers” of S&T knowledge/ capabilities and enable their transition to S&T – based production organisations --> Strengthen, Catalyse and support linkages between existing Field Groups, S&T NGOs, Colleges/ Universities and S&T Institutions involved in R&D and application of innovative solutions for development of disadvantaged sections especially in rural areas --> Motivate scientists and technologists to apply their expertise to problems of disadvantaged sections --> Involve and provide opportunities for Young Scientists in pursuing innovative research on societal problems --> Thus evolve demonstrate replicable models of S&T-based development for benefit of disadvantaged sections, and --> Catalyse linkages with Developmental Agencies/ Departments and Financial Institutions so as to promote integration of these models with wider developmental processes Perspective & Approach --> Need – based, location- specific and appropriate S&T intervention --> Respect for traditional knowledge, techniques, skills and wisdom --> “Bottom-up” rather than top-down programme planning --> Full community involvement and participation in programme planning, implementation and monitoring --> Economically viable, ecologically sustainable and socially acceptable development DST’s Science & Society Schemes --> S&T Application for Rural Development (STARSD) --> S&T for Weaker Sections (STAWS) --> S&T for Women --> Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes --> Tribal Sub- Plan --> Young Scientists Scheme Priorities --> Action- oriented, innovative field- based programmes for technology demonstration and utilization by S&T Field Groups in partnership with the target groups --> Technology generation and adaptation programmes by S&T Institutions and S&T- NGOs in collaboration with Field Groups and the target population --> Specific S&T application programmes to tackle problems of Women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes including primitive tribes --> S&T inputs directed at traditional artisans for skill development and rural industrialization --> Short-duration field investigation projects by S&T Field Groups to formulate need-based action plans and adaptive research programmes --> Co- ordinated Programmes to assess and demonstrate replicability of, and work out dissemination strategies for, models/ technologies evolved through the above Major Replicable Models & Technology Packages Over the years, SSD/DST has achieved significant breakthrough in developing and demonstrating replicable technology packages and field models/ methodologies in several sectors. Based on the success of individual Projects, Co-ordinated Programmes for assessment and feedback under different socio-economic and agro-climatic conditions have generated proven and sustainable Models/ Packages in several sectors. --> Leather --> Tanning: Vegetable Tanning, Wet- Blue Chrome --> Product- making (footwear/ non-footwear) --> Carcass Utilisation --> Red-Clay Pottery: medium temperature glazed --> Fruit / Vegetable processing and Preservation --> Sericulture: cultivation, rearing, reeling and weaving --> Fish Aggregation Devices (FAD/ARs) for coastal fisher folk --> Fresh- water Fish Hatcheries --> Computer/ Electronics assembly, repairs and operation in Rural Areas --> Land & Water Management --> Construction Technologies: MCR Tiles, SMBs, Fibre- boards etc. --> Black smithy --> Medicinal Plants: cultivation, processing of high- value plants Other Replicable Technologies --> Nursery Techniques --> Rock- Bee Honey --> Clay Emitter Irrigation Systems --> Bio- fertilizers eg. Azolla, BGA --> Rice Transplanter --> Rabbit – rearing 1. Rabbit Skins/ Fur Processing 2. Angora for Wool --> Dehydration of Flowers and Foliage --> Driers 1. For Coconut Gratings 2. For paper 3. Biomass-based Driers for Horticultural produce 4. Solar Driers --> Utilisation of waste Bio- mass --> Neem Oil Purification --> Palm Jaggery powder --> Extraction of Natural Dyes --> Pedal Operated Rice Mill --> Solar Energy Systems for Rural Areas --> Gasifiers 1. Biomass 2. Kitchen waste --> Plata type Water Pump --> Ice-based Cold Storage for fruits/veg./flowers --> Zero- Energy Cool Store for Fruits/ Veg --> Carpet Making Machine --> Modified Filature for Silk Spinning --> Wool Carding Machines --> Fibre- based Composites --> Low cost diagnostic Medicinal Kits for Urinary Tract Infections --> Removal of Hardness from Water --> Recycling of 1. Plastic Polybags 2. Spill Water 3. Paper --> Bio-digestion of pulp/ fibres for paper --> New/ Improved Cycle Rickshaw --> Bicycle Trailers (Multi-purpose) Some Recent Initiatives Among the numerous Programmes currently on- going, some major recent initiatives are: --> Rural Technology Parks (RTP) --> Women’s Technology Parks (WTP) 1. Mountain Regions – Dehradun (Uttaranchal) 2. West Coast Region – Manipal (Karnataka) 3. Arid Region – Barmer (Rajsthan) --> Integrated Village Development Programme in 50 Villages/Districts throughout India --> Technology Intervention for Mountain Eco-Systems (TIME) --> North- East Iniatives 1. location- specific technologies/strategies 2. Focus on Horticulture, Floriculture, Spices/Condiments, Rural Industries/Crafts, Energy --> Andaman & Nicobar Islands Initiatives 1. Location- specific technologies/interventions 2. Special programmes for Jarava & Onge primitive tribes Institutional Linkages NGO “ Core Groups” DST’s Science & Society Division has a unique Programme to support selected S&T Voluntary Agencies with a proven track record of innovative work in development and application of technologies for rural areas. “ Core Support” to these Groups is a long-term programme support for core S&T manpower, institutional running cost and open-ended R7D work. Core Groups may, and should, additionally avail of DST support for specific time- bound Projects. SSD/DST’s Core Support Programme to Vol Ags has given a major impetus to need-based “bottom-up” technology generation for benefits of Weaker Sections. S&T Institutions Fruitful collaborative linkages have been built with numerous S&T Institutions and National Laboratories for technology development/ adaptation, technical back-up support to field programmes/ groups and catalyzing further research. Effort at DST/SSD has been to associate concerned National Labs or other specialist S&T Institutions with each major programme so as to build-in expert input, utilize national S&T infrastructure and link it up with grassroots S&T interventions/initiatives. For further information or other details contact: The Head Science & Society Division Department of Science & Technology Technology Bhavan New Mehrauli Road, NEW DELHI – 110016 (INDIA) Phones: (011)-(11) – 6567373; 6519530. FAX: (91)-(11)-6519530 E-mail: johnyssd@alpha.nic.in
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