Science and Technology Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan launches CSIR technologies for rural development

The Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan on September 30, 2020, launched the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) technologies for rural development.

The launched technologies are under a joint initiative of Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan (UNA), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA), and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D).

The three parties had signed an MoU on July 28 to work jointly for the post-COVID-19 fast track action plan to create livelihood opportunities in the rural areas, particularly for those who returned to their native villages amid the lockdown.

On the 40th Foundation Day of CSIR-NISTADS, I launched an intiative, ‘CSIR Technologies for Rural Development’.

Aimed at creating livelihood opportunities in #rural clusters, it will help in realising PM Sh @narendramodi Ji’s vision of #AtmaNirbharBharat.@CSIR_IND @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/rcaaObDQSf

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan)
September 30, 2020

The event was organised through an online platform on the occasion of the 40th Foundation Day of CSIR-NISTADS (National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies) in Delhi on September 30.

Under the joint initiative, the knowledge & grass-root presence of @Unnatbharat_Tw & @Vibha_India will help deploy indigenous livelihood-oriented technologies developed by @CSIR_IND

It shall educate, train & empower #rural population to become truly #Aatmnirbhar@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/2kr1FGQAC2

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan)
September 30, 2020

CSIR technologies for rural development:

• Technology for an improved beehive for quality and hygienic extraction of honey. It is developed by CSIR’s Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology.

• Technology for manufacturing ginger paste developed by the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore.

• Dehumidified dryer for food and Agri products and agricultural waste (sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran, and fruit peels) based biodegradable cups, plates, and cutleries developed by the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram.

Importance of Science and Technology in development:

Dr. Harsh Vardhan in his address on the occasion stated that the appropriate intervention of Science and Technology can play a crucial role in bringing equity and equality in the process of development.

He added that research agencies, NGOs, corporates, organisations working with the medium, small, and cottage level entrepreneurs, socially cognizant citizens, and voluntary social organisations need to partner on a common platform to address the problems affecting the lives of the millions.

The Union Minister further noted that the challenges that we will be facing need actions and we need to reinvent and explore innovative approaches for the actions from different stakeholders that include government as well as non-government agencies.

About Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan:

It is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Education launched and conceptualized in IIT, Delhi, with a vision of transformational change in the rural development processes.

The Abhiyaan now constitutes 45 Regional Coordinating Institutions (RCIs) and 2,614 Participating Institutions. A total of 13,760 villages have been adopted under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan.