IIT-Delhi takes a step to boost technology in rural areas

To bring rural development technologies closer to policy makers, IIT-Delhi is planning to set up a museum in its campus and IIT Jhajjar campus where working models of these technologies, developed by educational institutes, will be displayed.

To bring rural development technologies closer to policy makers, IIT-Delhi is planning to set up a museum in its campus and IIT Jhajjar campus where working models of these technologies, developed by educational institutes, will be displayed.

File photo of IIT Delhi. (Sushil Kumar/HT File)

IIT-D has written to around hundred institutions of higher learning such as other IITs, National Institute of Technology (NITs) and agricultural universities to send their proposals listing two rural development technologies.

Officials say Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies, policy makers and public can visit these museums to see the latest technology for rural development and pick suitable ideas for implementation in their constituencies.

“The idea is to have working models which will tell what exactly the technology does to help development in rural areas. Using the exhibition we can interact with ministers and other policy makers for scaling up and using the technology in real life situation,” said IIT-D director V Ramgopal Rao.

The plan is a part of the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), a flagship scheme of the HRD ministry, being coordinated by IIT-Delhi. Recently 89 districts were adopted by around 45 institutes, like IITs, NITs and IIMs, to provide technical and managerial solutions.

VK Vijay, national coordinator of the program, said that the Delhi campus will display the prototype of the technologies.

“Here we will display the basic model which will give a fair idea about what the technology can do. Policy makers can visit these museums and find all the latest technology for rural development at one place. It will help them in identifying what suits their district or village and directly talk to the developer for using the technology,” he said.

The mission of UBA is to enable higher educational institutions to work with the people of rural India in identifying development challenges and evolving appropriate solutions for accelerating sustainable growth, officials said.

“We have written to around 100 institutes and are waiting for their replies. They have been asked to suggest two working models on rural development technology which has been developed in their institute. These models will be displayed at these museums,” Rao said.