From the CPO's Desk
Creating Impact through Promotion of Low-cost Technologies and Conservation of Indigenous Medicinal Knowledge
Gadchiroli, a district nestled in the forests of eastern Maharashtra, is characterized by its rich natural resources, indigenous cultural heritage, and predominantly rural population. However, the region faces challenges such as limited industrial development, economic disparity, and dependency on traditional, low-yield livelihoods. Science & Technology Resource Centre (STRC) has emerged as a vital institution to address these challenges by promoting low-cost, contextually relevant technologies that enhance rural livelihoods while fostering sustainable development.
A Mission to Bridge Science and Rural Needs
STRC serves as a hub for innovation, knowledge dissemination, and community engagement in Gadchiroli. Its primary objective is to bridge the gap between advanced scientific research and the practical needs of rural communities. By leveraging modern science and technology, STRC facilitates the creation of sustainable, low-cost solutions tailored to local conditions, ensuring technologies are accessible, affordable, and user-friendly for the local communities.
Key Areas of STRC’s Impact :
1. Agri-allied Innovations
Agri-allied activities remain the backbone of Gadchiroli’s economy. STRC introduced low-cost technologies such as; soil testing kits for optimizing fertilizer use. Bamboo made Seed Spacer for line-transplantation to help reduce the need of additional labour and seed through a pilot project on Saguna Rice Technique (SRT) for paddy and vegetable cultivation. STRC also envisaged to introduce modern technologies like IoT in vegetable cultivation project in the pipeline. These interventions have enhanced crop yields, reduced input costs, and made farming more resilient to climatic variability.
2. Forest-Based Livelihoods
With over 75% of the geography under rich forest cover, major chunk of Gadchiroli’s tribal communities, living in and around forests, depend heavily on minor forest produce for their livelihoods. STRC has been putting a lot of emphasis to streamline the collection, processing, and marketing of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) like tamarind, mahua, honey and bamboo under the its NTFP Collectivization project. STRC has introduced low-cost tools such as; mahua flower harvester, collection net, hand-held blowers, and also has plans to have basic infrastructure for low-cost processing for better quality and higher value-added products. STRC also provides training on sustainable harvesting practices, ensuring resource conservation.
3. Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
STRC has implemented decentralized training cum production facilities for bamboo craft and NTFPs through CFCs to promote self-reliance and entrepreneurship. STRC will soon venture in to low-cost construction techniques using local materials like mud and bamboo and setting up micro-enterprises in NTFPs, agro-processing and handicrafts. Gondwana Craft, an artisan centric umbrella brand created to preserve and promote traditional art-forms and boost artisan economy of the region.
4. Promoting Traditional Healers and their Indigenous Medicinal Knowledge
To address the concern, STRC initiated the Van-aushadhi Abhiyan in 2017 to identify and recognize local Traditional Healers, followed by series of Vaidu Sammelan in 2019 addressing over 300 traditional healers, leading to the development of the Vaidu Directory, a handbook of local traditional healers and their healing practices in 2021 and subsequently, scientific documentation of important medicinal plant to establish the indigenous medicinal knowledge and ethno-medico-botanical context of the region was carried out to document this traditional wisdom and practices, culminating in the establishment of the Vaidya Chikitsalay, a traditional healers’ OPD in 2022, has now catered to over 2000 patients. This initiative aims to promote traditional healers and their healing practices, and provide them due social recognition. Furthermore, this unique initiative opens the door for intensive research leading to the marriage of traditional healing practices with modern healthcare system, ensuring holistic well-being for all, going forward.
5. Promoting Community Engagement
One of STRC’s most significant contributions is its participatory approach for technology need assessment. The center involves local communities at every stage of technology development and deployment, ensuring their needs and traditional knowledge are respected. This engagement fosters a sense of ownership, ensuring the long-term sustainability of these initiatives.
Challenges and Way Forward :
While the STRC project, through its multiple initiatives over the years, has gradually progressed and managed to create tangible impact, the issue of sustainability and scalability for greater impact remains the major challenge going forward! Based on the preliminary impact created till date, a subject focused log-term sustainability plan is being developed. The current thematic verticals are being institutionalized and developed as independent divisions, to operate in a larger scale with a multi-stakeholder approach, forging greater collaboration.
STRC in Gadchiroli is poised to become an example of how science and technology can be harnessed to uplift rural communities. By integrating low-cost, innovative solutions with traditional knowledge systems, STRC has paved the way for sustainable livelihood enhancement, empowering the people of Gadchiroli to thrive in harmony with their natural environment. As this model continues to evolve, it holds immense potential to be replicated in other regions facing similar challenges.