NIRD'06 Conference
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON
TECHNOLOGIES FOR
SUSTAINABLE RURAL LIVELIHOODS
January
8 – 12, 2006
National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD)
Hyderabad (India)
Organized by:
National Institute of
Rural Development
Muffakham Jah College of Engineering & Technology
Engineers Without
Borders – India
Engineers
Without Borders - International
Engineering for Developing
Communities
BACKGROUND
Responding to the livelihood and other
basic needs of developing rural communities is a major
concern worldwide. Increasing population coupled with
continuing degradation of local natural resource base
has further aggravated the already dismal situation.
There is an urgent need for initiating a “Sustainable
Technology Empowerment Process (STEP)” that
strengthens rural livelihood security through
self-identified and community managed projects. Such a
mission, aimed at ensuring improved quality of life for
current and future generations, could only succeed
through a creative partnership between technical experts
and the rural communities. Responsive livelihood
engineering in rural areas therefore calls for a genuine
blending of formal engineering expertise with
needs-based socially responsive engineering skills
The idea of envisioning a new future for
the rural masses through appropriate, eco-friendly and
resource-conserving technologies is gaining ground
around the globe and is encapsulated in the United
Nations Millennium Goals. The National Institute of Rural
Development (NIRD), located at Hyderabad, India, has
created a unique Rural Technology Park (RTP) to showcase
some of the Research & Development work done at NIRD on
innovative rural technologies and rural development. The
RTP is emerging as a one-stop technology resource center
for sustainable rural development efforts through
forward and backward linkages.
The workshop will provide a forum for
evolving forward-looking strategies on harnessing the
growing resources on sustainable livelihood-enhancing
technologies available at RTP and elsewhere and utilize
these for community support initiatives.
OBJECTIVES
-
To
demonstrate a broad range of rural technologies in
operational mode at NIRD’s Rural Technology Park and
provide opportunities for examining their adaptation
under varying resource regimes, in particular, their
suitability and value to various EWB/ISF projects
around the world.
-
To provide an opportunity for the participants to
observe in-situ application and status of
technologies developed at NIRD in selected villages
near Hyderabad.
-
To provide a forum for EWB/ISF members and others to
interact, create synergy, form partnerships, share
knowledge and experiences and further the EWB/ISF
mission.
-
To explore collaboration
mechanisms for building a network of replicable
“green village” models across regions in India and
elsewhere.
TOPICS COVERED
-
Sustainable organic agriculture:
Vermicompost, bio-pesticides, agro-forestry,
medicinal and aromatic plants, etc.
-
Water resource management:
Watershed development, rainwater harvesting,
micro-irrigation, treatment and recycling of
wastewater, etc.
-
Agro-based rural micro-enterprises:
Food processing, handmade paper production, natural
dyes, mushroom cultivation, etc.
-
Decentralized rural energy systems:
Solar, biomass, biogas, bio-diesel, wind, etc.
-
Cost-effective construction
technologies: Low-cost
housing, sanitation models, rural infrastructure,
etc.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The program is tailor-made for EWB/ISF
International network members from different countries
and associated engineers from EWB-India. Development
workers, students and volunteers interested in working
for rural sustainability in developing countries would
also benefit from the workshop.
Note:
Since the number of participants is limited to 30,
pre-registration on a first-come-first serve basis is
essential to book your place. (NIRD has agreed to hold
another such workshop in March 2006, if necessary, for
those unable to find a place in the January workshop).
WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES
-
Keynote address and brief background papers and
presentations by NIRD staff;
-
Study visits;
- Film shows;
-
Resource materials and CDs;
-
Interface with grassroots innovators and rural
entrepreneurs;
-
Exhibition on rural crafts and organic products;
-
Action plans.
WORKSHOP
CO-ORGANIZERS
-
Dr. B. Bhattacharya
Centre for Technology & Product Marketing
Institute of Rural Development,
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500030, India
Tel: 91-(0)40-24008541 / 24008416
-
Dr.
Y. Gangi Reddy
Centre for Technology & Product Marketing
Institute of Rural Development,
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500030, India
-
Dr. Ali Ansari, Professor of
Mechanical Engineering
Muffakham Jah College of Engineering & Technology, Hyderabad, India
Tel: 91-(0)40- 23555121/ 23352084/
(0)9849289850
-
Dept. of Electronics and Communications
Engineering
Muffakham Jah College Of Engineering &
Technology, Hyderabad, India
Tel: 91-40-55826261 / 9885407094
-
Dr. Bernard Amadei, Professor of Civil Engineering
University of Colorado, Department of Civil Engineering, Boulder, CO,
USA
Tel: 1-303-492-7734
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