IIT Guwahati Establishes New Centres for Rural Livelihood Enhancement
The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has launched two interdisciplinary research centres focused on developing technologies to boost livelihood opportunities for rural communities.
Key Initiatives
- Centre for Innovation in Agri & Aqua Voltaics (CIAAV)
- Integrated Facility for Wellness-Product Innovation (IFWPI)
Both centres operate under the institute’s School of Agro and Rural Technology (SART) and will work on sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, and wellness products derived from local resources.
Official Announcement
The launch was announced during the Second Annual Review Meeting of the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) 2.0 Projects.
“The Rural Science and Technology Partnership Centre envisions serving as a hub for 25 to 40 surrounding villages, and integrating technologies such as soil health management and satellite-based information to strengthen rural development,” said A.K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
Sood emphasized that RuTAG initiatives aim to move rural technologies beyond pilot stages, focusing on diffusion beyond initial implementation areas and ensuring standardization, documentation, testing, and validation.
Focus on Market Readiness
“Under RuTAG 2.0, we must ensure market readiness, commercialisation, and deployment of these technologies for the rural sector’s all rounded growth,” stated Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary in the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser.
Maini highlighted that the Northeast region holds strong potential for innovation-led sustainable development and that the rural sector must remain a key area for science and technology interventions.
Collaborative Implementation
RuTAG 2.0 projects are being implemented through several premier institutions including IITs in Guwahati, Delhi, Bombay, Roorkee, and Madras, along with SKUAST-Kashmir and ICAR-NAARM.
