Roorkee :  The Regional Coordinating Institute of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) at IIT Roorkee organized an Orientation Workshop for UBA Coordinators of Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh at the APJ Abdul Kalam Block, IIT Roorkee. The workshop brought together coordinators, experts, and community leaders to deliberate on sustainable rural development through innovation, traditional knowledge, and entrepreneurship. The inaugural session began with the lighting of the lamp and the release of the book “देशज ज्ञान में बादल”. Welcoming the participants, Prof. Ashish Pandey, Coordinator, RCI-UBA, IIT Roorkee, highlighted the significance of UBA in bridging academia and rural communities.

In his inaugural address, Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, emphasized that the spirit of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan lies in empowering villages with knowledge, technology, and sustainable practices. He added that IIT Roorkee is committed to supporting rural transformation through innovation-driven initiatives that pave pathways to Atmanirbhar Villages. Padmashri Shri Sethpal Singh said that true development begins in villages and by diversifying agriculture and embracing traditional wisdom, sustainable livelihoods for farmers can be ensured.

 

The technical sessions featured themes such as diversification in agriculture, honey authentication and food safety, weather forecasting with traditional wisdom, organic farming, eco-village concepts, entrepreneurship for Atmanirbhar villages, and agro-advisory services. Expert speakers included Prof. N.K. Navani, Dr. Meena Kumari, Shri Ravi Saini, Dr. Subha Dwivedi, and Dr. Pooja. Prof. N.K. Navani informed about the establishment of the National Centre for Honey Authentication and Food Safety with the support of the National Bee Board under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. He also explained initiatives under ‘Madhu Kranti’ to support farmers with subsidies on honey production equipment, honey processing, and training in beekeeping.

Concluding the sessions, Prof. Ashish Pandey underlined UBA’s role in integrating local wisdom with modern science, stating that the workshop will help Principal Investigators of UBA Coordinating Institutes in Uttarakhand and West UP to act as catalysts of change, linking rural realities with institutional expertise. The day also included a visit to the Agromet Observatory at IIT Roorkee, providing participants with hands-on exposure to agricultural innovations.

 

The workshop reaffirmed IIT Roorkee’s commitment to the vision of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan – fostering self-reliant, sustainable, and empowered villages. The outcomes of the workshop are closely aligned with the Government of India’s rural development priorities, including Swachh Bharat Mission, Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2028, and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which emphasizes community engagement and experiential learning. By connecting academic expertise with grassroots realities, the initiative strengthens national goals of sustainability, inclusivity, and rural empowerment.

(Release ID: 2169014)