The Hindu Business Line : `Technology must percolate to lower strata of society'

Inaugurating a workshop on `Downsizing technologies for rural and coastal area development' at Surathkal on Wednesday, he said that percolation in education in rural areas would boost the ability to absorb new ideas.

Compared to other districts in the State, literacy level is high in Dakshina Kannada district. This has helped in percolating technology in society. But the situation is different in other districts, he said.

Mr Srivastav said that information and communication technology should be effectively used in rural development.

The Government could become a catalyst among various agencies to percolate technology to the lower strata of society, he added.

Dr S.S. Murthy, Director of National Institute of Technology Karnataka, said that the objective of the workshop is to identify the problems of rural people and find solution to them with the help of technology.

Referring to an example of Mattoor village — popularly known as Sanskrit village — in Shimoga district, he said that though being situated on the banks of the Tunga, it is facing water problems every year. His institution wants some projects for the development of such villages.

In this regard, NITK has networked with 3 institutions in Dharwad, Shimoga and Tumkur districts to identify problems in rural areas in those districts and find solutions to them with the help of technology. World Bank has sanctioned Rs 50 crore under the Technology Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) for this purpose.

Problems in villages of the above districts will be different, and there is a good opportunity to synergise them, he added.

Mr Anuj Sinha, Head, Science and Society Division, Department of Science and Technology, has said that modern technology should be used for rural development.

Urging the need for involving scientists and institutions more intensively in rural development, he said that technological interventions should address priority concerns of rural society.

Stating that the works of scientists will be meaningful if they can make any difference to the lives of rural women and artisans, he said that focus should be on addressing the practical needs of these people.

Terming woman as the poorest entity in a rural household, Mr Sinha said that she is concerned about the welfare of her family than herself.

She accords priority for feeding her husband and children, and considers about herself after catering their needs. Steps should be taken to ensure her nutritional requirements, he said.

Sri Tatvajnananda Swami of Belur Math in Kolkata presided over the inaugural function.

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