S&T for Under Privileged

Programme for SC/ST population – (Department of Science & Technology)

Technological Interventions for Tribal Empowerment (TITE)

TITE programme under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) to support and implement technology-led demonstration projects for improving quality-of-life and empowerment of Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities based on sustainable Science and Technology (S&T) activities/application. Major focus of the scheme is to promote research, development and adaptation of S&T for better living conditions with enhanced livelihood opportunities, and initiation of location- specific and need-based programmes. Projects are being implemented mainly by S&T driven/based voluntary organizations and Universities/R&D institutes as part of their extension/research activities mostly in difficult geographical areas.

Achievements:

• Under TITE and SCSP, 80 diverse projects implemented in different parts of the country focusing on appropriate and cost effective technology modulation and transfer, based on location-specific needs/conditions, leading to technological empowerment in related occupations of Tribal/ Scheduled Caste sections of society.
• Improvised drying-cum-storage technology for large Cardamom has been successfully introduced and demonstrated in Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Machinery tools and equipment introduced for improved processing and packing of UNR (Untapped Natural Resources) Palmyrah Fronds and Bamboo sheaths at the household level to make value-added products locally in Chinturu Block, Andhra Pradesh.
• A Network programme to address migration and malnutrition in tribal communities through appropriate technologies is being implemented in 11 locations in the tribal pockets of Maharashtra covering 50 villages and around 3000 beneficiaries.

Programme for SC/ST population – (Department of Biotechnology)

For the socio economic upliftment of SC/ST target population programme was continued and various projects were sanctioned on poultry production; goat rearing; artificial insemination; sericulture; bio-control agents; vermicomposting; medicinal plants; mushroom cultivation; aquaculture; animal husbandry and bio-resource complex. About 20,000 people have been benefited.

• Tissue Culture - At KAU, KVK project on entrepreneurship development and sustainable livelihoods for SC/ST women through floriculture was implemented in two agro-ecological locations of Wayanad district and Central midlands, Thrissur district of Kerala.
• Artificial Insemination - Dissemination and use of biotechnology tools in livestock for sustainability development for the families in desert areas of Rajasthan was implemented by BAIF Research Foundation, Pune.
• Ginger Cultivation - Livelihood promotion of tribal communities in Kandhamal District, Orissa by using biotechnology was implemented by OUAT, Bhubaneswar for the benefit of tribal communities in Kandhamal district, Orissa.
• Black-Pepper Cultivation - Scientific organic cultivation of pepper through efficient use of bio-control agents and bio-pesticides was propagated among the Tribal and Rural farmers of Idukki District, Kerala by Peermade Development Society, Peermade, Kerala.
• Product Development - Promoting the use of invasive species, as an important bio-resource, to enhance livelihood of forest dwelling tribal communities was implemented by Atree Foundation, Bangalore.
• Poultry Production - Poultry production was implemented for demonstration of Giriraja poultry as regular source of income for SC/ST population in Washim district of Maharashtra.

Sustainable Agriculture Rural Transformation Holistic Initiative (SARTHI)

Location-Specific Interventions addressed issues related to Livelihood, Health & Nutrition, Drudgery and Local Resource Management in the lower Shivaliks.

Achievements:

• Management and utilization of Lantana Camara to improve livelihood in Kandi region of Punjab; Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, in collaboration with Forest Research Institute, Dehradun developed a technology package to collect the biomass and its effective usage in making handmade paper.
• Three training programs were also conducted on handmade paper manufacturing from Lantana biomass for 15 potential entrepreneurs from Talwara & Bhung block of Kandi region of Punjab, at Cellulose and Paper Division, FRI, Dehradun.
• Trainees trained with production of handmade paper technology will be able to generate income of Rs.10000/-pm.
• Wheat varieties (HD-2967) and (HD-3086) recorded yield of 52q/ha and 45q/ha respectively with yield increase of 14% and 2% than the local ones (PBW-226, PBW-292) with an estimated increased profit of Rs.40,000/- from 1ha of land.
• Three improved paddy varieties (P-1121, P-1612, and P-2511) gives yield 50.13 qt/ ha as compared to local variety which gives 45.60qt/ha with increased yield of 6.57, 14.69 and 8.55%, respectively as compared to local check (Sarbati) leading to an estimated increased profit of Rs.10,800/- per ha.

Scheme for Young Scientist and Technologists (SYST)

The scheme nurtures young scientists to take up S&T based projects of societal relevance with lab-to-land approach.

Achievements:

• Design, Development and Testing of a Continuous Aonla Pricking Machine
• Design and Development of Manually Operated Equipment for Bamboo Stripes Manufacturing

Societal Programme for Rural Development – (Department of Biotechnology)

In rural areas for dissemination and use of biotechnological process and tools and for creation of new employment avenues training and demonstration projects were supported in various states. Few major projects were supported in an integrated manner utilising the bio-resources available as 'Bio-village' have been supported.

• Biological Pest Control - Biological Control of crop pests was implemented for the benefit of rural population in Jabalpur District of Madhya Pradesh.
• Sericulture - Farm training in silkworm rearing was implemented at Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agriculture and Technology, Jammu.
• Pisciculture - To induced seed production in Fish Hatchery and rearing was taken up as a livelihood option for rural youths and farmers in three blocks of Bhagalpur District in Bihar.
• Health - To create awareness about preventable causes of mental retardation, namely; congenital hypothyroidism, biotinidase deficiency and galactosemia and to establish the newborn screening program as a multi-institutional project by SGPGI, Lucknow.
• Fish Culture in Horticulture Ponds - Enhancement of rural farmers through fish culture in horticulture based polythene lined farm ponds was undertaken by College of Fishery Science, Nagpur.