Science for Society

Disadvantaged Sections

Science Technology And Innovation (STI) Hubs For Development Of Scheduled Caste (SC) And Scheduled Tribe (ST) Communities

The Department of Science and Technology proposes the establishment of Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs to develop, nurture and ensure the development, improvement, and delivery of appropriate and relevant S&T approaches for Creation of Sustainable Livelihoods and enhancing the Quality of Life of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe population in the country. The thrust areas for interventions though not restricted may focus on the following themes. Natural resource and human resource endowment for sustainable livelihood planning through science, know-how, and practices Promote research, development & adaptation of appropriate and relevant technologies for socioeconomic development of target population. Promotion and Documentation of Traditional & Indigenous Knowledge and upgrade the skills, building on local innovation & local knowledge systems (including integration of high end technologies with traditional & indigenous skills). Promotion, replication and scaling up of successful technologies leading to socio economic empowerment. Creation of micro-enterprises and forward linkages o Science and technology Capacity Building and Skill Development leading to sustainable livelihoods.

Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP)

Social Equity principles demand special attention and careful intervention to facilitate scheduled caste community in their developmental aspirations programmes focused on enabling the community need to be developed into both empathy and sensitivity backed up by the supply of adequate resources.; Scheduled Castes Sub Plan is a scheme to empower SC population through the input of Science and Technology.

Objectives:

  • To promote research, development and adaptation of technology for improving the quality of life of the economically weaker sections of scheduled castes in urban/rural areas
  • To encourage scientists & technologists to apply their knowledge and expertise to solve the problems of economically weaker scheduled caste communities, especially in rural areas.
  • To replicate successful technology models relevant to SC population

Priority Areas:

  • S&T intervention for sustainable development and income generation amongst scheduled caste artisans/farmers;
  • S&T intervention for enhancing efficiency of artisans engaged in traditional occupations;
  • Optimizing the design of commonly used equipment, machinery, rural transport vehicles to increase income, reduce drudgery and improve general health and well being, simultaneously sharpening their competence for undertaking repairs and maintenance.
  • Facilitating setting up of technology driven micro-enterprises in rural areas.
  • Sensitizing voluntary agencies, scientists of laboratories sand related agencies to S & T approach for development of scheduled castes through short-term brain-storming workshops and awareness generation to possible technology options ; and
  • Other activities, which would complement these objectives, like workshops, seminars, publications, etc.

S & T Application for Weaker Sections (STAWS)

This scheme is aimed at the development of economically weaker sections of the society in rural and urban areas. It focuses attention on specific S&T inputs for improvement of rural artisans, landless labourers, etc. Emphasis is placed on multi-sectoral approach incorporating original ideas based on locally available resources and incorporating the direct beneficiary groups in decision-making.

Objectives:

  • To promote research, development and adaptation of science and technology for improving quality of life of weaker sections.
  • To motivate scientists for applying their knowledge and expertise to problems of the weaker communities.

Science for Disadvantaged

Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India, has various projects for the socio economic upliftment of SC/ST target population for 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.

1. 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.

2. Artificial Insemination – A project on 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.

3. Ginger Cultivation – A project on 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.

4. 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.

5. Product Development – A project on 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.

6. Poultry Production - A project on poultry production was implemented for demonstration of Giriraja poultry as regular source of income for SC/ST population in Washim district of Maharashtra. Beneficiaries were trained on different aspects of Giriraja poultry farming at KVK as well as at village sites in Risod Tahsil.

Technological Interventions for Tribal Empowerment (TITE)

Technological Interventions for Tribal Empowerment (TITE) programme under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) of Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India, supports and implements 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/applications. 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.

Major Achievements:

1. Under TITE and Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP), 80 diverse projects have been 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.

2. Improvised drying-cum-storage technology for large Cardamom has been successfully introduced and demonstrated in Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh.

3. Machinery tools and equipment  have been 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

4. 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.