TED NewsDesk, New Delhi: In a welcome development in the field of scientific research, several innovative technologies are developed to work for the betterment of the rural population. The Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Technologies on Wednesday. The innovations are the result of the collaboration between CSIR, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA).
These technologies include upgraded beehive for efficient extraction of honey, facilitated by Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, CSIR. Production of ginger paste developed by the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore. Dehumidifier-drier for food and agri products and agricultural waste (Wheat bran, sugarcane bagasse and fruit peels) based biodegradable plates, cups and cutleries. The cutleries are developed by the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Thiruvanantpuram.
A three-way MoU was signed by the developers on July 28 with a plan to increase employment possibilities in rural parts. It will especially keep in mind those immigrants who have come back to their native villages after the mass- scale migration forced by the lockdown during Covid.
Dr Harsh Vardhan said talking about the contribution of various entities in the project,
“Corporates, research agencies, organisations working with the medium, small, and cottage level entrepreneurs, voluntary social organisations, NGOs, and socially cognizant citizens need to partner on a common platform to address various problems affecting the lives of millions,”
These resources will go to the rural communities via the Higher Educational network of UBA and VIBHA.
The event, organised through a webinar, was held for the 40th Foundation of CSIR- NISTADS. Many people attended the event, including DG-CSIR, Secretary DSIR, Dr Shekhar C Mande; Chairman- National Steering Committee, UBA Vijay P Bhatkar; Director IIT Delhi Professor V Ramgopal Rao; National Coordinator UBA Professor Virendra K Vijay; and Director, CSIR-NISTADS Dr Anjana Aggarwal. Also present were all coordinating and participating institutions of UBA, NGOs, UBA volunteers, villagers and farmers of the participating villages.
The statement released by the organisers said,
“The challenges that we would be facing need actions at several levels, and we need to explore and reinvent innovative approaches for actions from different stakeholders that include not just government agencies but also voluntary social organisations, NGOs, corporates, entrepreneurs, academicians and scientists and constructively supplement these efforts.”
The joint venture is a very ambitious attempt to make the lives of agricultural workers and everyone involved with produce not just better but thriving.
Dr Harsh Vardhan also informed that the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is formed under the Ministry of Education, to transform the rural development sector. Such transformation will be possible with the technological expertise and innovation of higher education institutes for research and development.
The agriculture sector forms the largest source of livelihood for Indians across the country; it would make the industry immense profit to employ the country’s best technological and scientific minds to bring about a permanent evolutionary change in its production process.