Department of Science and Technology has been implementing a multi-location Coordinated Programme on Resource Management and Development for the Empowerment of Scheduled Castes in different parts of the country through the input of Science and Technology (S & T) since 2007. This programme of demonstrative nature is being implemented at pilot scale which is essentially for skill upgradation and capacity building of Scheduled Caste community in traditional as well as new emerging areas leading towards improved quality of life and for better livelihoods options through appropriate S & T interventions. As such programme is restricted to S & T intervention needs which may contribute to develop model villages in holistic way which require also other support services in terms of infrastructure development like transport and communication etc. The villages covered under this coordinated programme, so far, are Chhamroli, Sinota, Dharamchuk, Bagath, Chakarpur, Matela and Rajpura in Uttarkhand; Majhas and Kalol in Himachal Pradesh ; Tal in Jammu & Kashmir; Kadinamkulam, Kottukal, Veliyathu Nadu, Chittadi, Cherichil, Paruthikkad, Mundur and Puthupariyaram in Kerala; Illayanainarkulam and Edumalai in Tamil Nadu and Tummalapalli and Miyalavaripalem in Andhra Pradesh; Bhadra, At. Jehangirpura, Gopal Pura, Vadod in Gujarat; Bedla and Digod in Rajasthan; Dhyarigaon, Nalwadi, Wardha, Dharni, in Maharashtra; and Morena, Bagh Mugalia, Sohagpu, Machla in Madhya Pradesh.
The salient features of the programme is to develop / adapt appropriate locally available resource based technologies for employment and improvement of the quality of life of scheduled castes in rural areas for transformation and economic development. No specific budget has been allocated for this programme. On an average every year around one hundred and fifty lakh rupees are sanctioned under this programme.
The department has already initiated the programme for those villages which are predominately inhabited by Scheduled Caste community in the states of Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Science and Technology andEarth Sciences Shri Ashwani Kumar in a written reply to a question by Shri Kachhadia Naranbhai
Lok Sabha today.
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