Tech4Seva, connecting technology to community, inaugurated at IIT Delhi

Tech4Seva, connecting technology to community, inaugurated at IIT Delhi

Tech4Seva was a three days workshop inaugurated by Dr. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary DST and Shri R. Subrahmanyam, Secretary, MHRD on August 10, 2019. Tech4seva brings together the technology developer, technology user and technology provider at one platform with a focus on marginalized community. The key focus of the workshop was to provide a platform to those who are working for development and adaptation of research and technologies, to showcase their work in socially relevant technologies. The workshop also meant to encourage industry partners to provide financial support in the gap areas of growth and development. IIT Delhi in collaboration with Vijnana Bharti hosted the workshop in IIT Delhi campus.

In the inaugural session, Prof Vivek Kumar briefed the audience about Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), a flagship program of MHRD and how UBA and Vijnana Bharti have come together to host this workshop on the following 6 themes: Agriculture, Livelihood, Sustainable Energy, Swasth Bharat, Environment, and School Education. Prof Kumar welcomed the representation from Institutes from like DST, DBT, DRDO, ICMR, ICAR, IITs, CSIR, MGIRI, UBA, RuTAG, Grassroot innovators and start-ups, who have come for the workshops with their exhibits. Prof. Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi in his welcome address emphasized on connecting higher educational institutions with the society and rural areas.

Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST, in his address, emphasized on connecting technology with society through Tech4Seva. He suggested that it is the responsibility of the researchers to popularize science by addressing the societal problems through simple scientific writing. He motivated everyone to push the limit and raise the bar of research for the betterment of the society. He appealed to the scientific community to use Tech4Seva as a platform for scientific social responsibility. He also thanked MHRD for getting into this neglected domain and engaging higher educational institutions with community. In his welcome address Shri R Subrahmanyam, Secretary, MHRD addressed the audience by stating "Science that does not think of Society is useless and the society that does not think of science can never progress." He encouraged the audience to apply traditional knowledge and advanced concepts to solve problems of India. He said that the progress of India will happen only with innovations backed by cognitive ability, spirit of enquiry and R & D in right direction.

Shri Jayant Sahasrabudhe, National Organizing Secretary, VIBHA highlighted the weak linkages in integrating science and technology (S&T) with the societal needs. He emphasized to work on the upliftment of the society through collective action of all the stakeholders for national prosperity. The workshop had very interesting exhibition too, ranging from edible plates to organic soap.

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