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Techpedia team identifies 40 problems that need quick intervention; working on sustainable technical model

Shraddha Singh
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Project to map socio-technical issues in tribal areas is being carried out by Techpedia.in

In an attempt to ease and upgrade lives of tribals residing in Gujarat, NGO Sristi (Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions) has initiated a project to map their socio-technical issues. This project is being carried out by Techpedia.in, Sristi’s flagship portal dedicated to technological projects.

A pollution-less water engine developed by engineering students

As part of research, Techpedia team surveyed tribals concentrated in the south-eastern part of Gujarat particularly in districts of Panchmahals, Dangs, Surat, Vadodara, Bharuch, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha.

They also focused on tribals such as Siddis, Bhils, Rabaris, Padhars, Mers and Bharwads living in Kutch as well as coastal Saurashtra districts of Junagadh and Jamnagar. They mostly work as casual labourers, farmers, cattle breeders and find employment in ports.

Understanding problems
Students have taken problems from areas like agriculture, food processing, energy conservation and rural IT applications to address social needs through technical solution. Some are developing low-cost solar applications like cheaper solar lantern, parabolic solar cooker for use in tribal areas.

The team closely worked with local NGOs and forest authorities to understand problems of tribals. One of the common problems is processing charoli seeds mostly found in Gujarat tribal belt and other common efficient agri application solutions like value addition to traditional water harvesting sysytem. Techpedia will use knowledge of these socio-technical problems to come up with a technical sustainable model to address the unsolved issues.

We are trying to develop small enterprise units based on technology inputs
— Hiranmay Mahanta, MD, Techpedia.in

Hiranmay Mahanta, managing director of Techpedia.in, said, “We are trying to develop small enterprise units based on technology inputs. The team has already identified around 40 major problems that needs quick intervention. These problems of most backward tribal districts are being posed to students on techpedia.in hoping the problems that have remained unsolved for centuries can now be cracked. We are trying to create a collaborative culture and virtual knowledge network, by which India can harness the full potential of young technological, legal and management minds in an integrated approach.”

In medicine and herbal applications, students are scouting to fill gap in the traditional process. During the process, the students also encourage the tribals to come up with their own innovations.

“We are aiming to benchmark, certify, codify and replicate products and services. This will create a new market. In return, students can explore opportunities within the given restrictions. There are a lot of traditional skills, which with some improvement or blending of new skills, resources or designs can create opportunities for employment and poverty alleviation in the bottom of the society,” said Mahanta.