Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology, IISc., Bangalore

and

Vision Group on Science and Technology,
Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Karnataka

State Science and Technology Conference - 2012

Theme : Role of Science and Technology in Rural Development

Introduction

Records of economic development in the world during the past century show how vastly improved products were created through the use of Science and Technology and the scope of authority of science expanded beyond the economic development. Recognizing the capacity of Science and Technology to transform the quality of human life, the Government of India attached higher priority to the field of science, since the early stages of the planning process and the constitutional role of the state enabled India to make experiments involving Science and Technology for development. The emphasis given at the early stages in state's involvement of technology transfer through rural development programme demonstrates states proactive role in bringing about social and economic transformations.

The Indian Government has declared 2010-2020 as the "Decade of Innovation". Although the gamut of innovation is vast and government efforts will be directed towards stimulating reforms in various sectors including education, environment, healthcare, and legal, there is an underlying emphasis to boost advances in science and technology. The stress on providing an impetus to science and technology is important, keeping in mind the crucial role it plays in the progress of a nation. The main aim of this declaration is to develop an innovation eco-system in the country to stimulate innovations and to produce solutions for the societal needs in terms of healthcare, energy, urban infrastructure, water and transportation.

The Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India is promoting innovations through various schemes such as Technopreneur Promotion Programme (TePP); technology business incubators under Science and Technology entrepreneurship Development scheme; Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research; Innovation Clusters; Small Business Innovative Research Imitative (SBIRI); Biotechnology Industrial Partnership Programme (BIPP); Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) projects and grass root innovations through National Innovation Foundation.

The Karnataka state has always been in the forefront of scientific and technological developments, thanks to visionaries like Sir M. Visvesvaraya and Sir C.V. Raman, who inspired science, technology and industrial policies of the State during the first half of the 20th century.

Rural development generally refers to the process of improving the quality of life and economic wellbeing of people living in relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas. Rural development has traditionally centered on the exploitation of land-intensive natural resources such as agriculture and forestry. However, changes in global production networks and increased urbanization have changed the character of rural areas. Increasingly tourism, niche manufacturers, and recreation have replaced resource extraction and agriculture as dominant economic drivers. The need for rural communities to approach development from a wider perspective has created more focus on a broad range of development goals rather than merely creating incentive for agricultural or resource based businesses. Education, entrepreneurship, physical infrastructure, and social infrastructure all play an important role in developing rural regions. In contrast to urban regions, which have many similarities, rural areas are highly distinctive from one another. For this reason there is a large variety of rural development approaches used globally.

With this background, Vision Group on Science and Technology (VGST), constituted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Karnataka and Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) are jointly organizing a two-day Third, Fourth and Fifth State Level Conference on Science and Technology. These conferences will focus on the issues pertaining to rural development, challenges and opportunities in rural development and especially on role of science and technology in rural development. The participants would be teachers, faculty members of the universities, educationists, science promoters, scientists, policy makers, administrators and officers from the Department of Rural Development and Panchayath Raj, Government of Karnataka.

Objectives of the proposed conference

  • To develop better co-ordination, collaboration, joint participation, relations and understanding amongst various constituents of the rural sector for promoting welfare of the rural masses by eradicating thirst, hunger, illiteracy, disease, poverty and by providing shelter and employment.

  • To promote active involvement of general public, Faculty, Students, NGOs and teachers for preparing plans for rural development.

  • To undertake integrated programmes for the upliftment and economic development of rural Karnataka and providing backward and forward linkages to the rural economy by allowing them to access global technology, funds & market.

  • To serve as a forum in association with professionals, research scientists, social scientists, reformists, technocrats, and agriculturists, to provide critical inputs on major issues, relevant to development of rural people and to seek appropriate representation on the various committees, bodies, delegations, teams etc. at the State level.

  • To undertake identification, development, adaptation and promotion of appropriate technologies, organize or assist in transfer of technology activities relating to rural development.

Activities

KSCST is planning to organize two-day Third, Fourth and Fifth State Level Conference during July - December 2012 in Sri Jayachamrajendra College of Engineering, Mysore, BLDE University, Bijapur and PDA College of Engineering, Gulbarga respectively.

The following issues related to the rural development will be discussed during the conference.

  • Reduction in rural unemployment and develop S&T initiatives for rural ecosystem.

  • Popularization of solar energy and other alternative sources of energy to the rural masses.

  • Bringing innovation in agricultural practices.

  • Strengthening individual income by taking alternate jobs to agriculture such as sericulture, horticulture, poultry etc.

  • Establishment of linkages between S&T in rural sector and rural infrastructure.

  • Special support to women entrepreneur and empowerment.

  • Addressing health and hygiene issues of women and children.

  • Providing low cost materials to build environment friendly houses in villages.

The scientists, engineers and industrialists / technocrats and administrators from various fields are participating as experts in two day conference.

These conferences would be helping to address the issues of rural development and other related issues.

 

In previous years, the Council, jointly with these partners, had organized First State Level Science and Technology Conference on theme "Science and Technology for Sustainable Development" and Second State Level Science and Technology Conference on the theme "Initiatives for Human Resource Development in Science & Technology".

The Recommendations made during these conferences are conveyed to the Government.

 

Click here for details of "Third State Science and Technology Conference - 2012 at Mysore"

 

Click here for details of "State Science and Technology Conference - 2011"

 

Click here for details of "State Science and Technology Conference - 2010"

 

 

Chief Coordinator:
Prof. M. S. Mohan Kumar,
Secretary, KSCST,
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore - 560 012
Tel: 2334 1652, Fax: 2334 8840
Email: office@kscst.iisc.ernet.in

Coordinator:
Dr. M. Prithviraj,
Executive Secretary, KSCST,
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore - 560 012
Tel: 2334 1652, Fax: 2334 8840
Email: prithvi@kscst.iisc.ernet.in

 

 

 

 

Organising Secretary
Dr. S. G. Sreekanteswara Swamy,
Fellow, KSCST,
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore - 560 012
Tel: 2334 1652, Fax: 2334 8840
Email: swamy@kscst.iisc.ernet.in

 

Catalyzed and Supported by:

VISION GROUP ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA

 

 

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This page was updated on : 28 August 2020 17:16