Category: Social Impact

IIT Kharagpur Researchers Aids to Green Construction to Reduce Global Warming

Climate change and green and sustainable growth have found top most importance in India’s G20 presidency this year. Not only India, but all the leading economies have spoken in one voice on it. To revolutionize green construction, a team from IIT Kharagpur, Department of Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering, led by Prof. T.K Bhattacharyya, Scientist Dr. Jhimli Manna, Mr. Ayan Chatterjee, and Dr. Debmallya Das have developed and patented a Nano-Engineered Graphene derivative to reduce clinker factor from cement as well as concrete which can save the CO2 emission upto 25% annually. In addition, it will help to reduce the cost of cement production by approximately 2000 crore INR annually for the leading cement manufacturers whose annual production volume is 120 million tons. This is mainly achieved by reducing the cost incurred due to clinker production and energy consumption, with an added advantage of green taxation.

Cement Industry is the second major contributor of CO2 emission [8%] which leads to global warming with more than 4.4 billion tons produced every year, a number that is expected to grow to 5.5 billion by 2050. This is due to the clinker production which is the main component of strength for cement. But we cannot essentially remove the clinker as lower clinker means lower strength. Hence the major challenge in developing green cement for all cement companies across the globe lies in reducing the clinker without compromising the strength of cement.

 

Nano-Engineered Graphene derivative contains a unique product fingerprint which helps in physical removal of clinker, enhancing strength by 25%. It also reduces water to cement ratio leading to water conservation specially beneficial for water starved areas. The product can be easily produced in large scale, hence can be seamlessly integrated into the existing industrial process flow, downsizing energy consumption. The nanoengineered graphene reinforced cement and concrete reduces crack propagation, enhances durability and resilience with lesser curing time without disrupting the current operating process. It can cater to the need of PPC, OPC, and slag based cement industries. The researchers  have successfully reduced clicker in industrial setting by up to 25% without compromising strength.

“The CO2 emission during cement production increased steeply by 1.8% per year during 2015-2020. In this scenario, we must decarbonize its production to reduce the carbon footprint for a greener future and meet the commitment to deliver Net Zero Emission by 2050. Almost all the national and international cement producing giants have focused their efforts in developing green cement using different strategies. A few of them have used clinker reduction strategies but till date none of them have declared a cement composition with physically reduced clinker which is the need of the hour. In this scenario, this technology is a breakthrough in revolutionizing green construction,” remarked Prof. T K Bhattacharyya, who is the professor at Department of Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering, and head of Advanced Technology Development Centre, IIT Kharagpur.

Microelectronics and MEMS Laboratory
Department of Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering 
IIT Kharagpur

The production of cement is the most carbon-intensive part which involves using fossil fuels to heat a mixture of limestone and clay to more than 1,400  °C in a kiln. When limestone (calcium carbonate) is heated, roughly 600 kilograms of carbon dioxide is released for every ton of cement produced.

The product has already been validated from two places. Firstly, it is tested in laboratory at the Civil Engineering Department at IIT Kharagpur and then MVP has been validated at the industrial testing laboratories of one of the major cement producing companies. A patent has also been filed and published.

Media Coverage :

                                                             Times of India

    Times of India (Online)                               Dainik Jagran        

                                                                                                             Coalfield Mirror                                                                                                   Hindi Bartaman

Contact Person: Prof. Tarun Kanti Bhattacharyya, IIT Kharagpur
Email: tkb@ece.iitkgp.ac.in

By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

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IIT Kharagpur developed ‘Matri Seva’ Software for Ramakrishna Mission Home of Services 

IIT Kharagpur has developed ‘Matri Seva’ – a database software, free of cost that works on patient’s particulars and database for Vivek Sanjivani, an initiative for Healthcare and Education of Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, Luxa, Varanasi. The software has been hosted in the Microsoft Cloud-based server to provide easy access to all the centres. It is used for primary healthcare, mental healthcare, follow-up visits, management of chronic-disease conditions, medications management, health education and other clinical services.

Vivek Sanjivani Telemedicine Service is a real-time telemedicine solution which offers a virtual alternative to the in-person doctor’s visit. It expands access to quality patient care, especially to regions with underserved populations. It provides a way to cut down on healthcare spending and keep connected patients throughout the year. iMediX, the telemedicine system that was launched by the Computer and Science Department of IIT Kharagpur on 02 October, 2020 provided emergency healthcare services for the IIT KGP students, campus residents and employees which was further expanded to MSMEs for commercialization. Its open-source version is named iMediXcare. The telemedicine system iMedix offers special telemedicine services through Vivek Sanjivani includes psychiatrist, ENT, Medicine, Oncologist and Community Medicine at the door step of the rural people.

Speaking on Matri Seva, Prof. Jayanta Mukhopadhyay, the Lead Researcher of the open source telemedicine software iMediXcare, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “Matri Seva is an extension of services of the existing Telemedicine system iMedixcare dedicated to the service of the community that Vivek Sanjivani initiated for the underprivileged. We are still living in the pandemic which showed us where we stand as a nation when it comes to a proper Healthcare System. iMedix has served the IIT Kharagpur community providing emergency consultancy services through remote consultation by physicians. I am hopeful that this technology will be further incorporated and adopted in other community health services as well.”

Vivek Sanjivani, an initiative for Healthcare and Education of Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, Luxa, Varanasi offers Telemedicine services through Twelve Centres in which six Stationary Telemedicine Units (STUs) are fixed at a place and six Mobile Telemedicine Units (MTUs) are roaming. It provides Mother-Child, Primary Healthcare, Adolescence Healthcare, Community Mental Healthcare, Eye Check-up, General Movement Assessment in neonates and infants and distribution of Nutritional Food Supplements in three districts including one aspirational district of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and one aspirational district of Uttarakhand. During 2022-23, Vivek Sanjivani served 27,875 patients through Stationary Telemedicine Units and Mobile Telemedicine Units and conducted Non-Communicable Disease Screening for 18,878 patients. The telemedicine programs of Vivek Sanjivani are backed with a 195 bedded referral hospital of the Ashrama in Varanasi.

According to Swami Divyasukhananda, Coordinator, Vivek Sanjivani, this Telemedicine Service directly provides improved access, cost efficiency and quality healthcare services to patients from marginalised group within the reach of their homes in three Districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh including one Aspirational District and One Aspirational district of Uttarakhand. Mobile Telemedicine Units of Vivek Sanjivani offer flexible and viable options to offer healthcare facilities to the vulnerable groups in the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh.

Media Coverage :

Times of India

 UNI Deccan Herald Indian Express 
India Blooms  Amader Bharat  Colfield Mirror

 

                   Times of India                                                                                           Colfield Mirror

 

 

 

 

By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

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Women’s Leadership Conclave 2022

As India enters its 76th year of Independence, it aims to reclaim its status of Vishwa Guru by 2047 where the role of women leaders is crucial in the diverse fields of our society to create a balance. With a drive to encourage women empowerment, Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership at IIT Kharagpur organized the first of its kind Women’s Leadership Conclave from 26th to 27th November 2022 on “Women – The Backbone of Society,” in Netaji Auditorium. Eminent women guest speakers like Dr. Kiran Bedi, Ex. Lt Governor of Puducherry and a Megsaysay Awardee along Smt. Premlata Agarwal, Padmashri, National Adventure Awardee; Smt. Phoolbashan Bai Yadav, Padmashri, Social Worker; Smt. Manoshi Roychowdhury, Co-Chairperson, Techno India Group said and Dr. Tessy Thomas (Missile Woman of India), Director General Aeronautical Systems DRDO, shared their insights and experiences on leadership roles of women in the 21st century.

In opening remarks of the conclave, Shri Partha Ghosh, the man behind the Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership & Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur stated, “The leadership conclave is about collaboration and compassion that the woman in our society symbolizes. He adds that the Academy of Leadership was based on Vedic philosophy at the core with dynamism of western strategy and western training. This is the fundamental shift. The centre of the solar system is not the western architecture which has been a zero-sum game, it would be the Vedic architecture which is the plus-sum game. We need a new revision of the leadership model that is existing for more than 500 years ago.”

 

While addressing the conclave, Dr. Kiran Bedi, Ex. Lt Governor of Puducherry and a Megsaysay Awardee remarked, “Empowered women who reach tough or unconventional positions make choices not sacrifices. All women work and are working, but very few are salaried. The IITs must do, as a part of training and grooming of how men and women both should work together, serve together and nurture together when they go back home. This is a very vital training that the academic institutions, especially IITs must do. Today women must be assertive and collaborative. Women empowerment is inclusive which should not be confused with feminism which is isolation. Women must work on the TEA MANTRA – Trust, Empowerment & Accountability. Every emotion is your choice, volunteerism and responsible behaviour in citizens is what lacks among people. In modern times a man has to recognize the women in them and the women has to recognize the men in them.”

       

 

Smt. Phoolbashan Bai Yadav, Padmashri, Social Worker said, “Connect with employment and with each other, even if it very small in nature. We should not always go to the government asking for help, we are independent enough to run an organization. Even if we save Rs. 1 then for 2 lakh women it becomes Rs. 2 Lakh which could be raised in one day. Today the rural working women in Chhattisgarh have a brand named Gaonwali where they sell the daily household essentials.”

Smt. Premlata Agarwal, Padmashri, National Adventure Awardee stated, “I climbed the highest peak of North America Mount Denali at the age of 50 with a load of 90kgs. As a Mountaineer, passion and desire should be guided with the vision to see the flag of your country on the highest peaks of the world. That is the goal of every Mountaineer. Disciplined life, hard work, honesty, time management, passion, teamwork and patience are the qualities required for being a Mountaineer because the mountains don’t know whether a Mountaineer is a girl or a boy, it’s the tenacity of the individual that counts. When I got the Padmashri, I dedicated it to my family, my guru, my parents because without their motivation, I would not be here.”

   

Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “Swami Vivekanda said that, if you want to know the growth and development of a country, you must see the treatment that is given to its women.” Men and women are the two wings of a bird, it cannot fly without the either one of them. We have these wonderful women icons who are Social Entrepreneur, Eminent Educationist, Missile Woman of India, Padmashri winners etc. who are inspirational to the world and as a country we should be proud of them. Just go ahead with integrity, if people believe in your integrity they will follow you.”

Dr. Tessy Thomas, Missile Woman of India & Director General, Aeronautical Systems, DRDO cited, “Women perform 60% of the world’s work and earns just 10% of the world’s income. Women lack real role models and mentors. When we think of changing the house, it has to start from your own house, initiated at home, propagated during school days and it has to be promoted while you are performing your job. That is how we can create a different and that is how the social and behavioural changes would come.”

Smt. Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, Co-Chairperson, Techno India Group said, “Study in a good college, get good marks, get a wonderful job but if you go outside the country for higher studies, take the best but do come back to serve your nation.”

A panel discussion was also conducted by Commander V K Jaitly with Prof. Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, Co-Chairperson, Techno India Group; Prof. Padmavati Manchikanti, RGSoIPL; Prof. Parama Barai, VGSoM; Prof. Sudeshna Sarkar, Dept. of Computer Science and Ms. Cherry, a student who actively worked with the organizing committee that includes Prof. Shailendra Kumar Varshney, Chairman, Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership, Prof. Trilok Singh, Vice-Chairman, Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership and Commander V K Jaitly.

         

By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

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Scientific & Uniform Speed Management to Reduce Fatal Road Accidents

Highlights :

  • The institute made recommendations based on road geometry & traffic characteristics
  • The fatalities in road accidents have increased by 1.3%
  • Initiate Audit of existing speed management measures, study of accidents and speed monitoring

India has always been on the edge when it comes to road safety and speed management. Even with new policy reforms and measures to curb road accident, a total of 3,66,138 road accidents caused the loss of 1,31,714 lives in 2020 as per the statistics of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). 1.2 lakh deaths were reported by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for the same year as death caused by accidents. The persistently high annual death toll brings into question the country’s ability to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.6, which aims to halve the fatalities and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030. Despite Covid-induced restrictions, on-road travel accident severity value i.e. persons killed per 100 accidents was 36 in 2020, up from 33.7 in 2019.

Researchers from IIT Kharagpur has recently submitted recommendations for scientific and uniform nationwide speed management to reduce fatal road accidents to the West Bengal government. It has accepted the suggestions in principle but there is a need for nationwide and uniform implementation. In its policy document, IIT Kharagpur recommended the constitution of state and district road safety councils comprising of various departments regarding scientific fixing of speed limits and erection of road signage, engineering initiatives, audit of existing speed management measures, study of accidents, speed monitoring, strict implementation of guidelines and mass public awareness about road safety.

Professor Bhargab Maitra, Civil Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur who led a team of professors in formulating the document said, “We have made the recommendations based on road geometry, traffic characteristics and roadside environment. Although there are several Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines which may be followed for better traffic management, the lack of a comprehensive and uniform speed management policy is an important concern in the Indian context.”

“In 2021, MoRTH proposed a reduction of road accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent by 2024. Speed management may provide the scope of bringing down the severity of road accidents. Keeping in mind the reality of traffic on Indian roads, it is essential to revisit and set appropriate speed limits to enhance road safety,” he added.

Times Of India

The document submitted by the Institute observed that a majority of the road stretches in the country, both in urban and rural areas, have mixed traffic, absence of lane discipline, uncontrolled access, roadside development and activities and a significant share of vulnerable road users.

Quoting the statistics of MoRTH, Prof. Maitra said, “Speeding caused more than 72 per cent of road accidents and 69 per cent of road accident fatalities in 2020. Also, there is a need to curb speed limits near potentially risky areas such as shopping zones, schools and hospitals. Only a few stretches have wide paved shoulders, median barriers, sufficient clear zones, access roads, good alignment and intersection treatments which are important engineering aspects to ensure road safety.

New global and country-level estimates suggest that routinely wearing helmets and seat belts, obeying speed limits, and avoiding driving drunk could save between 347,000 and 540,000 lives worldwide every year, said a study published in The Lancet.

“Road accidents are a leading cause of death and injuries in India, which tops the world in the number of fatalities due to such mishaps. 4.5 lakh road accidents took place in 2019, resulting in more than 1.51 lakh deaths. Besides creating enormous social causes for families, road traffic injuries put a heavy burden on health services and the national economy. Keeping in mind the reality of traffic on Indian roads, it is essential to revisit and set appropriate speed limits to enhance road safety. Hence, the implementation of IIT Kharagpur’s recommendations will be beneficial with the ongoing massive road development across the country.” he stated.

Media Coverage : 

The Print Business Standard Navbharat Times
Business World Hindu Business Line Indian Nation
IBC24    

Contact : Prof. Bhargab Maitra, Civil Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur; Email- bhargab@civil.iitkgp.ac.in; Ph no. : +91-3222-283458

Content Writer : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
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IIT Kharagpur conducts Bharata Tirtha II – an International Conference on Indian Knowledge System

Under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Centre of Excellence for Indian Knowledge Systems (CoE-IKS), IIT Kharagpur organized an international conference on Indian Knowledge Systems – The Bharata Tirtha II from 14th to 18th June, 2022 in association with department of Physics, IIT Kharagpur and key knowledge partners including Indian History Awareness and Research (IHAR) Houston, USA, IHAR India, DHARA, Ode to Indian Knowledge System, the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Education, Government of India. The conference which is a continuation of the programme Bharata Tirtha – I organized in November 2020 in association with Ministry of Education, was conducted in a hybrid mode in Gargi-Maitreyi Auditorium Complex of the Institute. The invocation ceremony witnessed the footfall of eminent speakers and experts including Mrs. Priyanka Chandra, Director, Ministry of Culture, Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur; and Prof Amit Patra, Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur.

The following session conducted a debate on content and chronology of Indian history and a talk on Ayurveda – Revisiting traditional medical system in the light of modern science and technology on 15 July, 2022.  Dr. Subroto Gangopadhyay, IHAR, Houstan, USA, Dr. Vedveer Arya, DRDO & IHAR, Dr. Mradu Gupta and many other renowned connoisseurs shared their insights on Indian Knowledge Systems. A special team from Vishva-Bharati, Santiniketan encapsulated the audience with a session on Tagore. A video show on water resource planning in Indian context, globalization and urbanization with built and semi-built architecture along with Bangabhumite Ramayana –  Indology through South-East Asian perspective was hosted the next day. On 17th July, a special session regarding the history of civilization identity was led by Sri Sanjeev Sanyal, former Principal Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance; Prof Joy Sen, Chairman, IKS, IIT Kharagpur and Prof. Somesh Kumar, Mathematics, IIT Kharagpur. Sanskrit – A tool to access Bharatiya Jyan Parampara and the Holism of Yoga were also included for panel discussions. A sarod recital on Indian Music & Physics by Shri. Siddhartha Bhose, a Physicist & a renowned Sarodist was organized by EZCC, Ministry of Culture. The event concluded with a Khagol Vigyan session in association of Ministry of Culture, Government of India along with panel discussions on Raman Effect, Quantum Physics, pioneering Indian contributions on Black Hole and Prof Thanu Padmanabhan’s contributions in Astrophysics and Cosmology.

Prof V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur stated, ‘Bharata Tirtha II has forwarded the narratives, the folklore and deep ecosystems that embed our heritage systems, heritage tourism as a deep pilgrimage and the assimilation of cultures beyond races and genetics dethroning both racial biostatistics and eugenics that so far guarded the erroneous Aryan Invasion Myth. IIT Kharagpur in association with Ministry of Culture will soon plan a series of programs under DHARA – the flow for Indian Knowledge Systems to take the relevance of ancient Indian wisdom to various colleges and school children in the country.’

“India is the motherland of our race, and Sanskrit the mother of European languages: she was the mother of our philosophy; mother, through the village community of self-government and democracy,” said American historian Will Durant in his book, ‘The Case for India, 1931’. With Bharata Tirtha II, IIT Kharagpur has proclaimed that Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) is not a nostalgia of the past but seeks the relevance of the primitive cultures of traditional knowledge systems & ancient wisdom in contemporary times. IKS synergize modern scientific knowledge with Indian art, architecture, sociology, culture and language as envisaged by National Educational Policy 2020. It should not be just a value additive process, but a main stream pedagogy for the future generations.

In the closing and valedictory program that was embellished by the presence of Mrs. Shreyanka Basu, Director, Museum, Ministry of Culture, Prof. Joy Sen, the Convener of the conference and the Chairman of the chairperson of the Centre of Indian Knowledge system, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “The emphasis on creative economy based on the eternal principles of Indian community ethos of ‘small is beautiful’, ‘restraint based on less in more’ based on farm and cottage stead economies, is a solution to the looming economic crisis in the modern age. The current advances in Quantum Sciences, Quantum biology and Astrophysics begin to match the ancient wisdom of Indian Sages based on the principles of involution and evolution, Krishna and Sukla (black and white) lineages of Cosmology and the evolution of consciousness in it.’

Content Writer : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
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Study on Qualitative Aspects of Sharing School Transport in Kolkata

Highlights :
  • To minimize traffic congestion, shared transport is necessary
  • Maintain police record of all the drivers and conductors involved in the school transportation
  • Punctuality of service, staff behavior, safety and security may bring down the share of private cars by 5-7 %

With the rising ownership of private cars, people have become prone to the traffic congestion as a regular intake of distress. Reopening schools after a hibernation of two years have exploded the roads with private cars as the safest and favoured mode of transport for children. Considering personalized transport as a basic insurance from the pandemic that we are still enduring, shared school transport have taken a hit among the parents in view of the safety of their children. Shared transportation plays a critical role in maintaining the balance of cars is to people ratio in the region of its operation. As per reports, the traffic gets choked up the most during the school hours making a travel harassment for people on road. Owing to such aggravating situations, researchers at IIT Kharagpur and Kolkata Traffic Police have launched a project to ensure the safety of school children on the road and to alleviate traffic congestion around schools during the school hours. The Institute has identified qualitative aspects of school buses like safety, security, staff behaviour, punctuality, protection from pollution and comfort as priority areas of intervention to make shared services attractive to parents. The study highlights the necessity and utilization of shared modes as a method to minimize congestion in the narrow roads of the city.

“The research began about five years ago with the identification of a comprehensive list of attributes that affect the choice of the mode of transport to schools based on the views of the school authorities, expert opinion and perspective of the vehicle operators. An extensive survey was conducted to understand the perceptions of parents in the city, taking into account the needs for both car-owning and non-car-owning parents. In Kolkata, nearly 12,000 parents were contacted for the survey and over 7000 of them responded. The survey was conducted in two rounds. In the first round, it found out the priority attributes which need improvements, while in the second it captured the impact of improving priority attributes on the choice of mode for transport to schools,” said Professor Bhargab Moitra of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur.”

Prof Bhargab Moitra
Civil Engineering
IIT Kharagpur

As part of the research, a standard operating procedure is developed for all stakeholders involved in school trips. Improvements of identified attributes even in lieu of required fare increment are expected to increase the attractiveness of the shared modes for school trips, and bring down the share of private cars by 5-7 %. Also, with the improvements, the generalized cost to the non-car-owning parents is expected to reduce by 2-3 % indicating benefits. The overall reduction in the traffic volume during school opening and closing hours is expected to reduce the vehicular emission and bring environmental benefits.

Prof  Moitra stated while quoting the study, “The findings of the project justify a shift from the current fare-centric approach to an improvement of the overall service with adequate emphasis on relevant qualitative and quantitative attributes. School children, their parents, school bus drivers and conductors, as well as the enforcement authority, the school administration and the police are the stakeholders in school trips. A standard operating procedures (SOP) was suggested by the report which demanded the police, school management and enforcement authorities to maintain police records of all the drivers and conductors involved in school transportation. Every driver should have at least five years of driving experience prior to taking up the assignment in schools, a record of all the vehicles involved in school transportation and enforce speed governors for school vehicles.”

The SOP also asked the parents of school children to check the driving license of the driver, keeping a copy of the same along with the registration number of the vehicle. Other measures like checking the condition of the tyres of the vehicle, strongly discouraging the use of worn off or resoled tyres, not allowing children to travel without the seat belt, prohibiting consumption of tobacco and alcohol by the drivers and conductors on duty and not to leave the small children unattended while dropping them back near their homes, were also advised. As for the children they should walk on the designated footpaths, should not cross roads without the assistance of an elder person and go back home for help if they missed their school vehicle.

Content Writer : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

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Media Coverage :

News 18

Telegraph

NDTV Education

IIT Kharagpur inked a MoU with Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth in Digital Farming Solutions

IIT Kharagpur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani, Maharashtra on 03 May 2022 under the World Bank and ICAR sponsored project named “NAHEP-CAAST-DFSRDA” in the presence of Dr. Ashoke Dhawan, Vice Chancellor, VNMKV. The National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) – Centre of Excellence for Digital Farming Solutions enhances productivity by Agri – Bots, Agri – Drones and Agri – AGVs.

This institutional collaboration in various spheres of education will enable the students to acquire industry relevant education, training and skills. Both the institutions will indulge in the scope of cooperation in the field of curriculum development, student-intern programs, consultancy projects, faculty exchange programs, knowledge sharing, student mentoring, pilot and proof of concept programs. Further this association also aims at enhancing the technological, social and cultural relations through faculty and student exchange programmes, joint research projects, coordinated graduate degree programme and joint academic activities and events. Dr. Gopal U. Shinde, Principal Investigator, NAHEP-CAAST-DFSRDA, VNMKV, Parbhani will be the coordinator from VNMKV. This cooperation also aims at enhancing the technological, social and cultural relations of both the institutions.

Prof V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “Agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian economy contributing about 18% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Rural India is now drastically moving towards digitization and technology. Today India has the potential economic value of $50-65 billion through digital agriculture by 2025, translating to 23% addition to the current value of agricultural produce. There are many pro-farmers apps that are helping the farmers with this transition of modernization. It’s time that we focus on Digital Agriculture with E-Utptadana.”

Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV) is one of four Agricultural Universities in the State of Maharashtra established in May 18, 1972 to fulfill the regional aspirations of agrarian growth.  It is entrusted with the responsibilities to provide education in agriculture, allied fields, humanities with research base to improve the productivity of important agri-horticulture, livestock, fisheries and agri-allied activities to undertake research and facilitate technology transfer in Marathwada region of Maharashtra.

Dr. Ashoke Dhawan, Vice Chancellor, VNMKV stated, “I am looking forward to this association with IIT Kharagpur where we can contribute effectively in creating Digital Farming Solutions.”

The NAHEP supports the Country Partnership Strategy and addresses the three engagement areas of integration, transformation and inclusion. These engagement areas foresee increased agricultural productivity and support quality improvements of higher education to create a more skilled workforce that continuously improves the productivity of key sectors, including agriculture. The proposed project is a Multi-Global Practice Collaboration between Agriculture and Education to support activities and results directly related to cross-cutting strategic areas of climate change, jobs and gender. The proposed NAHEP would contribute to the achievement of four Sustainable Development Goals by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all; equal access to affordable vocational training; greater gender and wealth equity through universal access to quality higher education; support financial interventions that increase the supply of qualified technicians and teachers; promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth & employment; seeking higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgradation and innovation.

Content Writer:- Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

IIT Kharagpur inks an MoU with ORMAS

Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) of IIT Kharagpur signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) to facilitate rural technological innovation for the growth of Producers’ groups and Producers’ companies providing technological solutions to improve the efficiency of production along with value addition. Both the institution will entail to identify technological needs of the product-based livelihood and engage in relevant R&D to upgrade the existing technology by modifying, redesigning and standardization of the users at grassroots level.

Prof V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur stated – “The intent of this MoU is to create awareness about the rural problems by offering proper guidance and financial support with solutions at the grassroot level. With this collaboration we intend to assess the existing technology backed up by relevant research and development to expand, upgrade and adapt expertise for the cause of the society.”

Content Writer:- Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

IIT Kharagpur inks two MoUs with AARDO & RFRF

IIT Kharagpur signed two MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) with African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) and Research for Resurgence Foundation (RFRF) on strategic collaboration and mutual cooperation in research, sharing of knowledge & resources. AARDO will cooperate with IIT KGP to achieve common objectives in the field of agriculture and rural development through technological innovations, solutions, interventions and capacity enhancement to benefit and strengthen rural societies by establishing cordial ties, strengthening cooperation and initiating an association between the two organizations for the benefit of rural communities in Africa and Asia. With RFRF, it is a strong academic collaboration by mutually undertaking joint responsibilities and activities in their respective field of excellence, research, resources, knowledge and personnel along with effective and efficient engagement towards strengthening and streamlining research in scientific and technology development, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

African-Asian Rural Development Organization, New Delhi comprises of thirty three members, including thirty one countries, developing an understanding among members for better addressal of problems and to collectively explore, opportunities towards coordinated efforts for the welfare and eradication of thirst, hunger, illiteracy, disease and poverty among the rural people in the African-Asian region. This association will recognize the need for enhancing self-reliance, economic resilience and social well-being of the people through sustainable livelihoods, quality of life, reduced drudgery through innovative machine and process development and creation of safe and healthy environment in the member countries. Both the organization will act as a forum to facilitate the exchange of views and ideas for continuing dialogues on innovative and suitable models of cooperation for agricultural and rural development.

Prof V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “These associations will augment a holistic growth towards building an inclusive technological amalgamation enhancing self-reliance, economic flexibility, community development and sustainable ecosystem. Channelizing knowledge transfer and access to domestic innovations will strengthen rural community and build solutions for them. IIT KGP’s frontier areas of research has contributed to various domains through affordable technologies and smart solutions and it will continue to do so.”

Research for Resurgence Foundation referred to as RFR Foundation is founded by voluntary organization Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal under Bombay Public Trust. RFRF is one of the vertical of Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal working in field of education since 1969. The core objective of RFR Foundation is to bring paradigm shift in research outcome, research methodology and innovation-based technologies, ensuring Bharatiya prospective, philosophy and applicability. The RFR Foundation is a multi-domain research institute and a network hub of research and allied activities in academics and industrial sector. The areas of collaboration for both the institutes will indulge in promotion of joint entrepreneurship programmes and start-ups along with support in execution, monitoring and evaluation process of various research activities.

Prof Goutam Chakraborty, Associate Dean, International Relations stated, “Both the MoUs are very important for the development of our Institute. While the one with AARDO will help us to reach out to 31 nations through sharing of expertise enhanced by technical innovation, the other with RFRF will help to reach into the glorious past of our nation through research on Bharatiya Knowledge Systems and transform its present.

Content Writer:- Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

IIT Kharagpur Spreading Health Awareness through Live Folk Art Performance

Albert Einstein had once said, “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

But the challenge of scientists, health workers and the administrative machinery, involved in communicating health awareness and promoting the adoption of new health habits, to large segments of people with varying levels of education and exposure remains an arduous task. In a diverse country like India which has close to 65% of the population living in a rural or semi-urban setup, 30% population devoid of literacy in addition to significant school drop-out rates, rural health communication, particularly in the pandemic situation, demanded novel and localized approaches with scientific ideas explained in the most elementary form.

Recently IIT Kharagpur took up this challenge to improvise an effective method of health communication to a large catchment of the rural population. Under the project “Folk Artists in the Time of Coronavirus” funded IIT Kharagpur, Prof. Anjali Gera Roy, from the Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences, engaged with folk artists (Patua) from the Naya village in West Midnapore to hold COVID-19 awareness outreach initiative communicated through visual and musical art forms. 

The tradition of creating public awareness programs started among the Naya Patuas two decades back with a group of women led by Rani Chitrakar performing on the HIV AIDS issue. Prof. Anjali Gera Roy, who has been working with this community approached a group of Patuas from Naya to create scroll paintings and songs exclusively to promote hygiene habits among the local people around Kharagpur. While the Institute has been organizing relief camps for the distribution of essential items to the underprivileged community, several of the relief recipients were observed to be nonchalant with regards to hygiene habits such as wearing masks or maintaining social distance despite the Institute repeatedly urging the people to follow the health protocols. 

This is where the group of Gurupada Chitrakar, Bahadur Chitrakar, Swarna Chitrakar, Jaba Chitrakar and Sonali Chitrakar were brought in to tell the tale of COVID-19. Guided by IIT Kharagpur researchers, the Patua group composed their songs in local dialects along with scroll paintings in folk art format to help the audience understand the challenges of COVID-19 and best practices to be adhered to. This mode of communication makes scientific information palatable and cognizable to people in various sections of society, especially in the area of health. The threat perception, precaution and remedies, when communicated in a language hued in cultural connotations, and coming from their social peers, is easier for the local people to connect with and efficacious in their public compliance. 

The first performance was organized at the entry gate of the IIT Kharagpur campus. [Watch Video] As the relief recipients queued outside the IIT gate, a Patua group from Naya engaged them in an interactive session about COVID-19. They followed it with a performance of songs to pats or scrolls created by the Patuas on the theme. The painters drilled home warnings about not following lockdown rules and other instructions through their pictures and songs and exhorted the onlookers to fight together to defeat the virus. 

Talking about the initiative, Prof. Anjali Gera Roy remarked, “This form of communication to the underprivileged community has been a tradition and has proven to be effective for ages. We are mulling over organizing more such performances for various sections of the society, especially to promote the vaccination drive.”

The people who came to collect the relief materials expressed awe not only in the artwork but the information being disseminated through folk music by their fellow community members. Many of the spectators explored the paintings to understand the nature of coronavirus and COVID-19.

Gurupada Chitrakar, a Patua performer said, “We find the medium of songs and pictures more effective than words. When we came to IIT Kharagpur and stood in  a line arranging our pats, people begin to wonder what on earth are they going to do.  But when we started singing, gradually people cocked their ears listen carefully and wanted to see the pictures and listen to the songs.  Those standing in the queue began to pay attention to whether they were standing too close or lowering their masks even though they know about COVID already.”

Recently, IIT Kharagpur had conducted a joint exhibition with Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Center (GTICC) Indian Council For Cultural Relations, India In Mexico (Embassy of India, Mexico City) and OraWorld Mandala to present an online workshop and symposium titled “Life on Scroll: Lockdown Creativity” by scroll painters and folk artists in India and Mexico. The highlight of this exhibition was a visual representation of COVID-19 in Patua art, short films on Amate and Huichol art and interactions of the Patuas from Naya with the Amate artists and Huichol/Textile painters from Mexico. 

Read the story on Times of India