Introduction of new Science and Technology (S&T) in rural areas for benefiting the poor populations can be a tricky task as people do not have the capacity to invest in a new technology.
Manavodaya conducted week long workshops for proper application of science and technology inputs for the benefit of the poor in rural areas. The first training programme was done for NGOs of Eastern India and the second for NGOs of Southern India. Manavodaya conducted week long workshops for proper application of science and technology inputs for the benefit of the poor in rural areas. The first training programme was done for NGOs of Eastern India and the second for NGOs of Southern India.
The programmes focused on the need for creation and empowerment of people’s groups to enable the poorest sections of villages to access the benefits of Science and Technology. The coordinator of the Eastern Region from Ramakrishna Math felt that the inputs from Manavodaya played an important role in building up the working plans for implementation of the project.
In another first, Manavodaya conducted a special programme for professors and research scholars of the elite Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi in methods of communication, social mobilization and management of self help groups in rural India.
This was followed by similar workshops for the students of IIT. It is gratifying to note that Manavodaya’s experience of working in the rural sector for last thirty years is gradually finding its way into mainstream thinking relating to technology transfer for the benefit of the rural poor.
Running a Full Credit Course on Self Help Methods for Technology Students
A fourteen hour course on the subject “Self Help and Values Based Social Transformation” drew a huge response from the students of IIT Delhi. About 60 students from various departments registered for the course that was held during late evening hours at the IIT Delhi campus.
The overall response can be gauged from the following observation by some students:
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The course is really amazing and two hours in the class pass like two minutes and I think the reason for this is interactive class with total experience sharing. Also, learning first time in IIT, during my three years journey, a course like this, based on real life rural problems, is really nice.
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I have to admit I was a little reluctant when I heard about this course, but 2 classes in, I can see my opinion has started to change, and I can now see the need for such awareness in institutes that offer technical courses and are missing this aspect.
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By this type of course we get a direction that how we can use our inner strength to move a society in which we have equality, consciousness.
USE OF SELF HELP METHODS FOR TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION IN RURAL AREAS
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
For the first time in my life I have seen a successful bottom to top implemented model. The most important thing I would like to say is thank you Manavodaya for this wonderful learning experience. I really respect you all for what you have done in your life. Only people like you are the ones because of which the world exists.
Earlier I thought that charity is a good thing but through this course I realized the need to think beyond and the concept of self help was really eye opening. It not only provides economic benefits but is also helpful for the overall development like building of self confidence, respect for women in family and society etc.
We focused on self reflection and collective reflection and understanding others from their point of view leading to widening of our consciousness. The concept of self help can be practiced in many field like technology transfer, good governance etc.