The Department of Science and Technology (DST), through its Science for Equity, Empowerment & Development (SEED) Division, implements the Strengthening, Upscaling & Nurturing Innovations for Livelihood (SUNIL) programme. DST received 40 proposals from State of Andhra Pradesh under the recent ‘Call for proposal’ launched during March-April, 2025. The proposals received under the call are being evaluated as per the extant process of the Department.

Under SUNIL programme, 7 Knowledge Institutions (KI) and 7 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as project implementation partners have been supported during the last five years. The details of state-wiseimplementing agencies and funds disbursed under the SUNIL programme are as under:

 

S. No.	State Name	Implementing KI & NGO	Amount Released (Rs. in Lakhs)
			2023-24	2024-25	State wise Total
	Uttar Pradesh	Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group, Gorakhpur Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi	85.95	-	85.95
	Delhi	Society For Development Alternatives, New Delhi Indian Institute of Education, Pune	64.89608	74.00	138.896
	Uttarakhand	People's Science Institute, Dehradun ICAR KVK, Dhanauri, Haridwar	93.975	-	93.975
	Maharashtra	Vigyan Ashram, Pune SavitribaiPhule Pune University, Pune	53.6253	40.00	93.6253
	Karnataka	University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad Society for Community Participation & Empowerment, Dharwad	62.3332	-	62.3332
	Tripura	N B Institute of Rural Technology (NBIRT), Tripura Visva Bharti University, Tripura	77.42759	26.00	103.428
	Rajasthan	MaharanaPratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS), Jaipur	20.00	12.64	32.64

DST disbursed an amount of Rs. 610.84 Lakhs till date for implementation of these projects and Rs.529.14 Lakhs was utilized by implementing agencies.

The projects supported under SUNIL programme are monitored regularly through Annual Performance Review, Group Monitoring Workshops and Field Visits to assess the progress and outcomes. Preliminary feedback from Expert Committee, Implementing Institutions & Principal Investigators indicates positive outcomes and impact in terms of capacity building and skill enhancement of EWS. Review further suggests enhanced livelihoods opportunities, income diversification via agri-tech & poultry, bamboo, water-efficient agriculture, adoption of ergonomically efficient technologies, support to grassroots innovations & sustainable S&T based rural enterprises in implemented areas.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2150130)