The nation commemorated the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, marking 75 years of Independence on August 15, 2022. To mark this occasion, it was only fitting to acknowledge, appraise, and showcase India’s scientific prowess and accomplishments and its outstanding S&T development during its 75 years of independence. On this momentous occasion, the Ministry of Science and Technology [Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)] and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) organised “Techneev@75” to highlight the impact of science, technology, and innovation in fostering social equity, inclusion, and aspiration.
Science and technology are widely acknowledged as crucial tools for promoting and bolstering the nation’s economic and social development. Over the years, India has made substantial advancements in numerous spheres of S&T. The Indian government has long acknowledged that advances in S&T are essential for improving industrial and agricultural production, improving the quality of goods and services, and raising income levels and society’s well-being.
We live in a time of growing prosperity. But this is occurring alongside increasing inequalities. People are, on average, living longer and healthier lives, receiving more education and having better access to clean water, sanitation and electricity. A new middle class has emerged, fuelled by rapid growth amid the emerging economy. At the same time, poverty is stubbornly persistent in some pockets. Crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic have laid the gaps bare for all to see. Since the first industrial revolution, gaps between richer and poorer countries have widened with every spurt of progress. Our current technological surge could therefore have severe implications for developing countries.
Science and technology capabilities are essential for the social and economic advancement of the nation. Science and technological advancement can benefit rural communities by opening up new livelihood opportunities and diversifying their sources of revenue. New technologies can drastically improve the way people live and work. S&T can also raise the standard of living for rural residents and make it easier for them to access services.
The necessity of harnessing science and technology to transform rural India has long been acknowledged. As a result, the Government of India launched several programmes to use science and technology to promote community prosperity and the overall growth of rural areas. The Techneev@75 programme highlights the impact of STI intervention in empowering communities, whether tribal, rural, or urban. The programme aims to display the STI capacity at the fundamental level of society and quantify the extent to which STI has permeated various communities and social structures over 75 years of India’s independence. It also gauges the aspirations and expectations of the communities, in addition to mulling upon prospects and what needs to be done to make these interventions scalable and sustainable. The programme also emphasised identifying grassroots innovations, enhancing them, increasing their effectiveness, and disseminating them to a large population to ensure that the impact of such innovations is reflected in better livelihood prospects. Technologies that decreased laborious tasks, saved time and energy, and increased production efficiency were identified, adapted, and promoted, inspiring the community’s members to pursue entrepreneurship and launch businesses.
The community stories covered in the video are just a glimpse of the testament of the communities practising local innovation at the grassroots, which are holistic, sustainable and worth propagating.
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