1. Strengthening, Upscaling & Nurturing Local Innovations for Livelihood (SUNIL) Programme

• Technology delivery & enterprise creation model for improving efficiency of livelihood system
• Technology interventions for Addressing Societal Needs (TIASN)
• Capacity Building of Community-based organizations (CBOs), NGOs, Knowledge Institutions (KI) & Social Start-ups

2. Technology Interventions for Disabled and Elderly (TIDE)
3. Scheme for Young Scientists and Technologists (SYST) 
4. Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP)

• Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs

5. Science and Technology for Women (S&T for Women)

• Women Technology Parks

6. Community Resilience Resource Centre (CRRC)

Several other network programmes such as Cold Desert Region (CODER) & Arid & Semi-Arid Region (ASAR), Sustainable Agriculture Rural Transformation Holistic Initiative (SARTHI), Technology Intervention for Mountain Ecosystem: Livelihood Enhancement through Action Research & Networking (TIME-LEARN) and People and Protected Areas (PPA) have been supported by division, Figure1.

Figure 1: Schemes & Programmes under SEED Division, DST

1. Strengthening, Upscaling & Nurturing Local Innovations for Livelihood (SUNIL) Programme (Detailed Guidelines624.42 KB)

Technological Advancement for Rural Areas (TARA) programme was designed to provide long term Core support to S&T enable voluntary organizations working in rural and deprived areas to provide appropriate technological solutions and delivery. In the last five years (2016-21), 26 S&T driven core support groups (CSGs) were supported to address specific challenges in identified regions across the country where 51 technology packages were developed and transferred to 6,155 individuals resulting in the creation of 630 micro-enterprises and 5,573 green jobs.

Compendium of technologies supported under programme is available at http://dsttara.in//InnerPages/Technology_Compendium.aspx. More details are available at www.dsttara.in.

In 2022, TARA programme has been evolved as SUNIL programme aiming to strengthen technology delivery system and creation of social enterprise models for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) of society. Programme develops a joint implementation model (Land-Lab-Land) replacing NGOs as sole implementation partner with NGO & Knowledge Institutions (KI) involving other CBOs/SHGs/FPOs/Social ventures/ community to provide more comprehensive solutions at ground level. Focus of the SUNIL programme is not only limited to the deployment of many field-tested models and location-specific technologies to meet the needs of citizens, it also encourages improving their S&T knowledge, skill enhancement, capacity building and socio-economic conditions in the areas of Natural Resource Management; Drinking Water & Sanitation; Education; Health & Nutrition; Social Security; Local transport & Development; Electricity & Clean Energy; Entertainment; Integrated-farming & best practices; Linking people to financial services; Phone & Internet facilities; Livelihood & skill development etc. It supports in the following three major categories-

Technology delivery & enterprise creation model for improving efficiency of livelihood system:

• Providing emerging & locally appropriate STI solutions to strengthen weakest link of livelihood system through Land-Lab-Land approach involving KIs, NGOs and Community;
• Utilizing strongest link of local livelihood system for encouraging social entrepreneurship development for EWS Society.

Technology interventions for Addressing Societal Needs (TIASN)

• Research on identifying local & systemic need and STI solutions at the community level
• Developing scientific and need-based innovative technologies for improvement of economically weaker sections such as small and marginal farmers, rural artisans, landless laborer and urban population in unorganized sectors;
• Recognizing strengths & weaknesses of livelihood system;
• Standardizing pilot tested locally appropriate technologies
• Identifying local innovation system and linking with National Innovation system;
• Mapping welfare system with S&T knowledge system;
• Other systemic gaps related to implementation of S&T based projects at community level.

Capacity Building of Community-based organizations (CBOs), NGOs, Knowledge Institutions (KI) & Social Start-ups:

• Organizing awareness creation programmes, workshops, roundtable discussions, conferences, exhibitions, skills & training programmes to enhance the S&T capability of CBOs and NGOs;
• Imparting knowledge on societal development issues, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Priorities (NPs) and Scientific Social Responsibilities (SSR) to scientists & researchers (Postdoc, PhD & MTech students);
• Standardization of S&T enabled NGOs.

2. Technology Interventions for Disabled and Elderly (TIDE)

TIDE programme is a unique initiative of DST to create inclusiveness and universal accessibility for Divyangjan and the Elderly, through promotion and development of various assistive tools, technologies, techniques, affordable & adaptable to the Indian milieu. Proposals are supported under six (6) different broad thematic areas as mentioned below.

• Elderly/Geriatric Sector
• Visual Disability (including low vision)
• Intellectual Disabilities (including Learning Disabilities)
• Hearing & Speech Disabilities
• Locomotor Disability
• Multiple Disabilities

Some of the notable technologies developed under the TIDE programme in different categories are as follows:

Elderly:

Hip protection devices, automatic pill box, medicine recognition and alerting systems, fall detectors, dental attachments, walkers and wheelchairs.

Divyangjan: Cognition based Intelligent Mobility Device (Wheel Chair), Apex Locating, Anti-microbial and Adaptive Gutta Percha (GP) Points for Root Canal Applications             

Children with Special Ability: Speech-Input Speech–Output Communication Aid (SISOCA), Intelligent Tutoring System and Interactive Teaching Aid for Autistic Children (ITAAC), Artificial Intelligence Based Non-Invasive System for the Identification and Assessment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Visually Impaired: Dotbook and Interline Braille Slate for education for Children with intellectual and visual disabilities, Blind Assistive Device.

Hearing and Speech Disability: Speech- Input Speech–Output Communication Aid (SISOCA),

3. Scheme for Young Scientists and Technologists (SYST)

The scheme encourages young scientists and technologists (less than 35 years on the last date of submission of the application) to identify socially relevant challenges and provide S&T-based solutions using lab-to-land approach. Innovative S&T ideas in the form of a proposal are invited from young researchers under the following identi­fied themes:

• Arti­ficial Intelligence, Robotics and IoT for Societal Application in Agriculture, Rural Development, Disaster Management and Health
• Nutritional Supplements and Value-added Food Products for Human and Animals
• Plant-Based Health Products, Scientifi­c Validation and Upscaling of Traditional Knowledge Systems
• Cost-Effective Health and Hygiene Aids
• Effective Indigenous Methods of Disease Identifi­cation and Monitoring
• Natural Resource-Based Livelihood Systems
• Agricultural Tools and Agriculture Produce
• Income Augmenting Agricultural Practices
• Environment Sustainability & Renewable Energy
• Additive Manufacturing

Some of the noteworthy achievements under SYST are as follows:

• In order to reduce the occupational hazards among industrial workers, green cutting fluid from non-edible oils was developed for use in the metal cutting and shaping operations.
• A wood polymer hybrid nanocomposite using wood dust and waste plastic was developed, to generate wealth from waste.
• A sensor and light integrated walking stick-cum-umbrella for elderly was developed.
• Under wealth from waste another project of recycling fused or waste CFL bulbs to enlighten rural India and create livelihood diversification.
• A low-cost energy efficient system to monitor and report vital water quality parameters for high density aquaculture farms in real-time through internet/mobile was developed at National Institute of Technology (NIT), Puducherry for the benefit of farmers.
• A low-cost plant based synergistic natural supplement to alleviate gouty arthritic conditions was developed at CSIR National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI). The technology transfer process under AYUSH mode has been initiated.
• A smartphone imaging aided point-of-care dipstick platform for heavy metals sensing in water was developed.
• An AI based mobile App to detect 39 diseases of two crops tomato and potato.
• Easy collection and processing of pongamia through motorised dehusking & oil extraction machines brings confidence to boost biofuel production https://dst.gov.in/easy-collection-and-processing-pongamia-through-motorised-dehusking-oil-extraction-machines-brings

4. Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP)

Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) Schemes empowers SC and ST population through the input of Science and Technology and create their sustainable livelihoods and holistic development. The SEED Division had supported around 500 S&T projects under the TSP and SCSP Schemes during the last two decades in different states in diverse areas of agriculture, resource management, microenterprise development, art & craft, post-harvest technologies, health and nutrition, engineering and allied aspects, training and skill development, drinking water and sanitation, and energy to improve the quality of life of SC/ST communities and bring them into the mainstream of development with an improvement in knowledge, attitude and practices. A coordinated programme on People and Protected Areas (PPA) has been implemented for development of 30,000 tribal in the forest fringe areas and around protected areas/wild life sanctuaries in 13 states and 1 UT through a network 16 NGOs by promoting site-specific interventions and use of affordable and viable technologies for livelihood augmentation, as well as conservation of natural resources.

i) Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs

Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs have been established in different regions of the country for holistic development of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) Communities through systemic interventions. These STI Hubs develop, nurture and ensure the development, improvement and delivery of appropriate and relevant STI approaches for equitable inclusive growth of the SC and ST population through creation of sustainable livelihoods and improving the quality of life in tune to their growing aspirations. 20 STI Hubs (13 for SC and 7 for ST) have been established in different regions of the country to address the weakest linkages in the predominant livelihood systems through S&T interventions and for creation of social enterprises based on the livelihood strengths.

5. Science and Technology for Women (S&T for Women) (Guidelines)622.76 KB

The scheme ‘Science and Technology for Women’, initiated in 1982, with the aim to promote gender equality, empower women with inputs of science and technology has nearly benefitted more than 50,000 women across the country. About 1500 projects in diverse fields aimed at improving the livelihoods of women at grassroots level had been supported. About 46 women technology parks established as single-window hubs for convergence of diversified technologies, integrated with forward and backward linkages had benefitted more than 20,000 women to build capacities in new trades and skills with scientific knowledge leading to development of women entrepreneurs also. Under this programme, projects related to establishment of women technology parks, drudgery reduction, Health & Nutrition, minimizing occupational hazards and livelihood status improvement are supported with prime women beneficiaries.

i). Women Technology Parks

 Women Technology Parks (WTP) aim to improve the weakest link of the predominant livelihood system of women in an area and promote social entrepreneurship and women employment based on the strongest link of the livelihood system through interventions of Science, Technology and Innovations. Efforts are done that women in rural and peri-urban areas receive training in WTPs for skill development and capacity building as per National Skill Qualification Framework through S&T based interventions, using area specific resources, with goal of achieving local self- reliance for economic re-growth. Currently 25 Women Technology Parks are operational at various locations in the country. Nearly 1500 women were trained during the last year through online /offline training programmes in these WTPs. Some case success stories have been given under at https://dst.gov.in/success-stories-dst.

6. Community Resilience Resource Centre (CRRC)

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted the social, occupational, and financial infrastructure of the community. In order to combat the situation of COVID a programme for establishing CCRRCs was initiated in 2021 for building resilience among the community an extremely important need that emerged as the major challenge during the second wave of COVID-19. The programme aims to provide STI based interventions to supplement various other initiatives for prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery measures during COVID and Post COVID recovery stages. It also supports the scouting and simultaneous scale up of relevant STI solutions at community level for self-reliance against various disasters for risk reduction, adaptation and mitigation. It will develop the strategies for strengthening STI based economic and ecological resilience of the communities for sustainable livelihoods. Over a period of time, the CCRRCs would evolve as Community Resilience Resource Centres (CRRCs) to strengthen STI based resilience of the community in different aspects of livelihood system strengthening, establishment of social enterprises etc. besides development of strategies for disaster risk reduction, adaptation and mitigation for developing sustainable resilient communities.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

1. COVID19 Pandemic Related Activities

The year 2020-21 has seen unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak. SEED Division issued an advisory to support Knowledge Organizations to create scientific awareness on COVID-19 using social, print and electronic media to develop resilience at community level and showcase their Science and Technology (S&T) based interventions to address the challenges related to containment of disease and economic restoration as part of their Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) through ongoing projects. Some of these initiatives are given below:

• Contribution of knowledge and resources for the development and distribution of sanitizer as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and services for COVID 19 testing.
• More than 10,000L of sanitizer was distributed among frontline workers at AIIMS-New Delhi, Safdurjung New Delhi, Police Department of Haryana & Punjab and UP and migrant workers at relief camps.
• A mobile App based regular advisory to pregnant women was initiated under ongoing project at AIIMS New Delhi.
• A telemedicine facility for monitoring the health of farm animals was initiated by SKAUST, Srinagar.
• In order to address breathing related issue an herbal decongestion spray on the principles of Ayurveda was developed by CSIR-NBRI.
• Herbal sanitizer was developed, and its technology was transferred to companies for bulk production to sustain the supply of sanitizer for public consumptions at affordable rate.
• Protocol for herbal sanitizer was also shared with Voluntary Organizations for distribution at local level.
• A portable sanitizer bench was developed by tweaking the objectives to address the necessity in rural setting.

Report of COVID interventions by SEED division attached at  https://dst.gov.in/sites/default/files/Report%20on%20Interventions%20for%20SC%20%26%20ST-01.pdf2.8 MB

http://dsttara.in//InnerPages/COVID.aspx

2. Science & Society Setu for Atma Nirbhar Bharat (S³4ANB)

SEED Division – DST in collaboration with Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (O/o PSA), Vigyan Prasar (VP), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Accelerating Growth of New India's innovations (AGNIi), World Wildlife Fund (WWF)- India & Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO) successfully conducted S³4ANB web-clinic series over 8 weeks. The programme was conceptualized to provide an online platform for establishing collaborations and dialogues between ecosystem partners viz. S&T based Voluntary Organizations (NGOs), Knowledge Organizations (KOs), Social Start-ups, Grassroot Innovators and Communities for STI based appropriate solutions.It was implemented and managed by India Science, Technology and Innovation (ISTI) Web Portal. The details of this effort are uploaded on ISTI Web Portal https://indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in/science-society-setu. The virtual interaction focussed on five sectors in alignment with AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan namely, Agriculture and allied, MSME, Economy, Social Infrastructure and Cross-sectoral areas. Report available at https://dst.gov.in/sites/default/files/Final%20report-Web%20clinic-25%20Feb.2021.pdf509.78 KB.

3. Tech NEEV@75 programme: Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav

Tech NEEV@ 75 is a year-long celebration, highlighting the impact of Science Technology Innovation (STI) in empowering community to create equitable inclusive economic growth. It is 75-hour programme and includes experience sharing of beneficiaries, societal change makers’ conclave, community change leaders, and round table discussions by several stakeholders. It also includes compilation of 75 impactful stories on progress of India towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. It will lead to opportunities for land to lab research and help in building synergies with traditional, local and indigenous knowledge. This in turn will lead to new scientific developments which will contribute in building resilient communities.