The Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Science and Technology indeed provides opportunities to motivated scientists & technologists from national Research and Development (R&D) labs, S&T-driven Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and field-level workers to take up action-oriented and location-specific projects aiming at Socio-economic development of disadvantaged sections of the society through appropriate interventions of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), leading to their improved quality of life and livelihood. Through its diverse schemes and programmes, efforts are being made to empower the community by adopting technologies to address locally defined needs and priorities that consider available resources for sustainable development. The projects supported by DST work towards strengthening of human capacities, Institutional capacities and technology deployment. All the programmes of DST are implemented PAN India in competitive mode and financial support is extended strictly based on merit, encompassing all States and Union Territories, including Gadchiroli–Chimur Parliamentary Constituency in Maharashtra. The details of ongoing Central schemes fulfilling these purposes towards the Scheduled Tribes (STs) across the country may be seen at https://dst.gov.in/science-society-programmes.

The details of projects sanctioned are as follows:

1. The Department has extended support to the project “Technological Intervention in Promoting Composting and Kitchen Gardening for Safe and Sustainable Food Production in Tribal Villages of Aspiration Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra” at a total cost of ₹37,56,530/-, benefiting 280 tribal women farmers belonging to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (Maria Gond).
2. To strengthen the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem at the State/UT level, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) supports S&T Secretariats through State Science & Technology Councils, including the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission (RGSTC), Maharashtra. RGSTC has established the Science & Technology Resource Centre (STRC) in partnership with Gondwana University, Gadchiroli at the total cost of Rs.15,70,68,000/-. The centre implements science and technology-based interventions for underserved tribal communities in the Gadchiroli–Chimur Parliamentary Constituency. The Centre has implemented 11 structured programs impacting 1,021 tribal households.

STRC functions through five integrated programmatic verticals:

• Aquaculture & Fisheries
• Bamboo-Based Livelihoods
• Forest-Based Livelihoods & Medicinal Plants
• Applicable R&D & Rural Technology Development
• Communication for Development (ICT & Education)

Collectively, these verticals advance sustainable livelihoods, promote innovation, enable value addition and build community capacity, thereby promoting inclusive socio-economic development in tribal regions of Gadchiroli–Chimur.

The Department supports competitive, merit-based research and innovation projects through its various schemes across the country including Gadchiroli–Chimur. Call for proposals for these are published on DST website and EPMS portal to invite the proposals under these schemes. Eligible institutions and researchers from the Gadchiroli–Chimur may seek and avail support under these, subject to the provisions of the relevant scheme and selection through the prescribed merit based evaluation process. (Link for DST schemes-https://dst.gov.in/schemes-programmes).

This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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