Tribal Research and Development Center
at
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere
and at its Regional Centers
Following are the areas of possible Technological Interventions in Development of Rural and Tribal population
1. Spreading Science and Mathematics Education in Schools in Rural/Tribal Areas
2. Community Services for betterment of Economic Conditions- Agricultural
3. Technological interventions in Rural Economy
4. Information dissemination in Rural areas
5. Skill Development program
1. Spreading Science and Mathematics Education in Schools in Rural/Tribal Areas
There is shortage of trained manpower in the schools in rural areas. Most of the times, the teacher may not have science and mathematics background. It leads to un-inspirational teaching. This gap can be filled by a program along the lines as that of ‘Teach India’.
The engineering students are expected to have good science and mathematics background. If these students volunteer for teaching Science and Mathematics in the schools we will be able to develop appropriate scientific temperament amongst the school students at first and then local community. Each college under the University can adopt a village or tribal hamlet for such activity. The NSS volunteers of engineering colleges can be trained to teach mathematics and science subjects, making those more interesting to understand.
Design and developing Science Labs (Mobile labs)
The engineering students can also develop tools for better understanding of scientific principles. Also science labs in these schools can be developed with enthusiastic young and creative students. Out-of-box ideas can be developed as scientific tools for inspiring the school students. These labs should be treated as exploration space with free hand given to the students for handling the equipments. If it is not possible to develop a lab in each school for the want of adequate space, a mobile Science bus can be developed that can be taken to villages where the schools are situated. A group of volunteers from engineering colleges may drive the project. The efforts of the students can be appreciated by giving credits in their project.
2. Community Services for betterment of Economic Conditions- Agricultural practices and traditional medicines, forest products
Most of the population in rural areas, is not well educated. There is hardly any technological skills although traditional skills may exist. There is also migration issue associated with the population as regular income generating activities do not exist. Many of the tribals have no access to education, healthcare and pure drinking water or even access to many Government schemes of use to them. But some of them may have a good knowledge of local terrains and medicinal plants. Many of them migrate for most of the part of year elsewhere for search of jobs. There is need to develop systems around their local resources. The areas may need to develop new agricultural practices, including vertical farming for making effective use of terrain available. The cultivation of medicinal plants or other crops where conducive natural environment is available may also be provided. An excellent example of such an activity is cultivation of coffee beans by Mahindra under CSR activity in Andhra Pradesh with tribals with appropriate training. The tribals may also be encouraged conduct vertical farming when terrain is rocky for cash crops including vegetables. The identification of plants with medicinal properties may be possible with traditional knowledge of medicines. An organized cultivation of such products may allow the tribals to earn sustained earning and support themselves.
3. Technological interventions for rural economy
The benefits of technology in the rural areas are limited to phones. We might need applications of known technology advances in the farming and ancillary units. It may be linked to agricultural practices, preservation of the farm produce by drying or cold storage of perishable items, monitoring the growth of plants and crops, early detection of diseases, controlled dosages of fertilizers and of other chemicals, drip irrigation, sensing moisture content of soil and of micronutrients. It may be connected with marketing, online purchases and bidding, inventory managements, and supply chain management. Many of these needs can be linked with local colleges where real life projects can be taken up after discussion among the stake holders.
4. Information dissemination in rural set
Digital economy is still yet to take roots in the rural economy and there is need to educate a large section of society for digital transactions. There is some degree of mistrust also about the digital economy because of recent demonetization drive.
Most rural and tribal population is not aware of many welfare schemes or they have no means of knowing it. We need to build a system, visual one, for making them aware of these government schemes.
6. Skill Development program
If the population, is educated at least to 10th Std, the skill development program can be implemented for unemployed youth. Even for graduates from such belt, additional skills are required to be remain competitive. The University may conduct the skill development program for unemployed youth with support from Government or industry.
Intervention by the Technological University of State
DBATU is now an affiliating University and shall be bringing all technical colleges under its wing and shall coordinate the programs if supported by the State.
At first, we expect to initiate the program by careful survey of the areas identified by the State. It may be linked to NSS activities of the colleges. The NSS volunteers can conduct the socio-economic survey and come out with their analysis for needs at the local levels. A brain storming may be conducted at the local levels including the stake holders themselves in the process. If data are already available, it would help the group to work out the process early. Identification of needs an important part of the project.
The program of Teaching Science and Mathematics in tribal schools can be initiated on voluntary basis again using NSS members. The volunteers may need to undergo some training themselves to come up with proper teaching programs. The outcome of this program will have to monitored.
The Technological interventions can be linked with the final year projects of engineering students. The problems may be specified at the beginning of the academic year and students may be encouraged to select a problem individually or in group. The groups will be supported by the college and State may provide support for building prototypes of practical utility and have potential of field applications.
The University at its main campus and its regional centers may need to build Centers for Tribal/Rural Technology Development. These centers may be supported by the State Government as nodal points to coordinate the efforts of engineering graduates and to function as Technological partners in implementation of the projects at village levels.