478
S. K. Agarwal
5 Way Forward: Policy Interventions for Effective
Technology Facilitation at Bottom of the Pyramid
From abovementioned case studies and discussion, it is understood that strategies
for the most effective “Innovation Systems” (which include the generation, delivery
and access, and use of knowledge and technology for development) is the key to
the future of rural development in India. Analysis of work carried out under field
conditions also makes it clear that technology development and delivery need both
technological innovations (adaptive research for solar dryer, paper recycling etc.)
and social inclusion through technology user groups/social enterprise such as TARA
of DA and Sustaintech of TIDE, a farmer producer company or a women’s SHG or
a co-operative marketing federation or a macro-economic policy like tax incentives
for some rural manufacturing as well.
Systems approach to promote the research, development, transfer and diffusion
of environmentally sound and affordable technologies need to be established and
strengthened. The use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology can be a very effective tool to involve rural community in
such process of change. Further, if India has to make leaps in resource efficiencies,
mechanism for zero waste to promote circular economy needs to be put in place to
ensure that benefits of technological innovations reach the base of the pyramid with
local institutional support systems and arrangements to accelerate their adoption and
absorption among end users. In this context, Core Support model of TARA scheme
of SEED, DST has shown its strength and potential for effective technology facilitation mechanism at the grassroots level that includes need based technology and
innovation capacity building at local, regional and national level to promote knowledge sharing for skill development and economic growth as well. As such for societal
engagement, the bridging role of NGOs are of importance to provide the needed solutions for the common problems by translating the output from science, technology
and innovation related activities for inclusive development (Chandran et al. 2015).
Such institutional network at grassroots’ level involving community at large in rural
landscape can effectively contribute to foster innovation ecosystem in India for sustainable economic development. In this context, development of innovative day light
capture device i.e. Normal Micro Solar Dome (MSD) by NBIRT, Tripura costing
about Rs. 500/-, and PV integrated MSD with USB port for mobile charging costing
Rs. 1700/- has justified its immense utility in remote non-grid areas for lighting in
slum and village habitat. Such need-based intervention with socio-economic impact
benefits provides women and children in particular to have more time for education,
leisure and economic activity. While, to address such issues of social inclusion and
skill development, Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC), Palakkad, Kerala has
been able to develop microwavable earthenware pots through adaptive research and
its large-scale production by building capacities of local potters. Similarly, cost effective water heating panel developed by another CSG i.e. Himalayan Research Group
(HRG), Shimla to meet the domestic need of water heating in remote mountain areas
has helped not only to build capacities of artisans to fabricate them locally but also to
S. K. Agarwal
5 Way Forward: Policy Interventions for Effective
Technology Facilitation at Bottom of the Pyramid
From abovementioned case studies and discussion, it is understood that strategies
for the most effective “Innovation Systems” (which include the generation, delivery
and access, and use of knowledge and technology for development) is the key to
the future of rural development in India. Analysis of work carried out under field
conditions also makes it clear that technology development and delivery need both
technological innovations (adaptive research for solar dryer, paper recycling etc.)
and social inclusion through technology user groups/social enterprise such as TARA
of DA and Sustaintech of TIDE, a farmer producer company or a women’s SHG or
a co-operative marketing federation or a macro-economic policy like tax incentives
for some rural manufacturing as well.
Systems approach to promote the research, development, transfer and diffusion
of environmentally sound and affordable technologies need to be established and
strengthened. The use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology can be a very effective tool to involve rural community in
such process of change. Further, if India has to make leaps in resource efficiencies,
mechanism for zero waste to promote circular economy needs to be put in place to
ensure that benefits of technological innovations reach the base of the pyramid with
local institutional support systems and arrangements to accelerate their adoption and
absorption among end users. In this context, Core Support model of TARA scheme
of SEED, DST has shown its strength and potential for effective technology facilitation mechanism at the grassroots level that includes need based technology and
innovation capacity building at local, regional and national level to promote knowledge sharing for skill development and economic growth as well. As such for societal
engagement, the bridging role of NGOs are of importance to provide the needed solutions for the common problems by translating the output from science, technology
and innovation related activities for inclusive development (Chandran et al. 2015).
Such institutional network at grassroots’ level involving community at large in rural
landscape can effectively contribute to foster innovation ecosystem in India for sustainable economic development. In this context, development of innovative day light
capture device i.e. Normal Micro Solar Dome (MSD) by NBIRT, Tripura costing
about Rs. 500/-, and PV integrated MSD with USB port for mobile charging costing
Rs. 1700/- has justified its immense utility in remote non-grid areas for lighting in
slum and village habitat. Such need-based intervention with socio-economic impact
benefits provides women and children in particular to have more time for education,
leisure and economic activity. While, to address such issues of social inclusion and
skill development, Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC), Palakkad, Kerala has
been able to develop microwavable earthenware pots through adaptive research and
its large-scale production by building capacities of local potters. Similarly, cost effective water heating panel developed by another CSG i.e. Himalayan Research Group
(HRG), Shimla to meet the domestic need of water heating in remote mountain areas
has helped not only to build capacities of artisans to fabricate them locally but also to