1. Gram Karmi Seminar

To promote rural volunteerism, a National seminar on promotion of Gram Karmis through Rural Institutes was organised in association with Sri Krishnadevaraya University in March, 2010, at Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.

Souvenir releasing during national seminar on promotion of Gram Karmis at Anantapur	Key note address by Prof.D.K.Oza, former VC, Gandhi Gram Rural University

2)Encouraging rural entrepreneurs

3)Symposium on emerging rural occupations

As part of the promotion of courses around emerging rural occupations, the Centre organised a symposium on” Emerging rural occupations” in association with Sahakara Rural Development Academy, Bidar (SAHARDA - RUDSETI), on 15th September, 2010 at Bidar.  Some of the opinion expressed by the experts participating in the symposium are:;

• Need based survey have to be carried out to identify potential rural occupations by district agencies in their respective regions
• Emerging occupations in the areas like communications, food processing, preparation of multi-nutritious food, IT ,etc., have to be taken up and necessary courses need to be developed; and
• Agencies like NCRI should design and develop the courses and motivate universities and rural institutes to implement them for providing gainful employment opportunities.

4)Exhibition during the 2ND National Convention Of Rural Institutes

On the occasion of the 2nd National Convention of Rural Institutes-2010, the Centre organised an exhibition to showcase the capabilities of rural institutes, rural technology providers, rural development agencies and products of rural artisans and other rural industries.

5)Meeting with Livelihood Experts


A meeting was held on 1st December, 2010 with experts.  Dr.S.V. Prabhath, Chairman, NCRI and discussed with Dr.Sankara Dutta, Dean, Mrs. K.V.Gouri, Deputy Dean and G.A.Swamy, senior faculty member, from the Livelihood School of Basix group. The experts focused on the following four areas for collaboration:
• To take up research and publications in the area of rural livelihood
• To develop livelihood education courses at various levels ( Certificate, Diploma Degree and PG Courses)
• To  initiate practicum field posting of students, who are pursuing courses with various distance education programmes, with some agencies engaged in rural livelihood  support activities
• To organise a livelihood summit  at the national level , tentatively, during the month of June, 2011,on the emerging opportunities in  matching the skill-development with demands of the market

6) Sisal technology - boon for tribal and dry land area farmers
Sisal fibre based technologies are a boon to the tribal and dry-land area farmers in the country as expressed by Shri. Mohanaiah, in his inaugural address. Forum for Integrated Development (FIFD) an NGO in Hyderabad, involved in promotion of sustainable rural livelihood, organised a one-day national seminar on “Sisal fibre technologies and fibre products marketing” on 31st January, 2011, at Hyderabad. Shri. Mohanaiah, Chief General Manager, NABARD, inaugurated the seminar as the chief guest.  Further, he talked about the various initiatives of NABARD for promotion of rural livelihood schemes  like rural innovation fund, Grameena Vikraya Kendra, sustainable livelihood programme for tribals through horticulture plantations.


During the technical session, presentations on sisal fibre value additions technologies were made by Dr.A.Padma, principal scientist, ANGRAU. The innovative technologies include fibre extraction for industrial products, dying of fibre, hand-made paper, etc. Shri. V.Vasudev Rao and Shri. R.V.Subbarao of FFID spoke about the growing potential and livelihood opportunities in sisal cultivation. 

Shri. K.C. Madani of Jayshree Fibre Products Ltd, Kolkota, and Sidhartha Jhawar of Chota Nagpur Pvt.Ltd, Ranchi, leading manufacturers of sisal products, have come forward to purchase 1000 tones of extracted fibre from Andhra Pradesh in every year. Shri. K. Kishan Rao, GRTGSK, NCRI made a presentation on the initiatives of the centre and explained the role of NCRI for promotion of traditional sector and, propagation and promotion of rural technologies, etc. Dr.I. Sreenivasulu, Project Officer, NCRI, also participated in the seminar

7) Revival of Traditional Artisan Industry through Science and Technology

Traditional Knowledge Systems (TKS) are one of the primary influences on any society, culture and, consequently, the economy.Therefore, empowerment of TKS, particularly the rural artisan industry / sector, is essential.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Dr. .Sreenivasulu said that effective and long-lasting plans have to be made in order to improve the capacity and expertise of the rural artisan community and foster their overall development.

Addressed by Prof. V.S. Vyas, Member of Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Committee and Vice Chairman, Rajasthan Planning Board as a chief guest

 A one-day workshop on Rural Artisans: Changing Scenario – Status, Problems and Opportunities was organised by Kumarappa Institute of Gram Swaraj in collaboration with Gurdev Rabindranath Tagore Gram Seva Kendra (GRTGSK) of NCRI, Hyderabad on Saturday March 12, 2011 at Jaipur, Rajasthan.

In the seminar also told that Dr.I.Sreenivasulu that an important component of the non-farm segment is the unorganised sector of workers, especially in the rural sector and these artisans comprise blacksmiths, carpenters, weavers (carpets, durries, khesh, sarees, etc.), potters, mudha makers, hand tool makers, farm implement makers, metalwares (silver, brass, copper) makers, sculptors (wood, metal clay, stone), handicraft makers, etc, This informal sector possesses vast potential for opening-up employment opportunities, generation of income and strengthening the purchasing power of the rural people. 

In the seminar, Prof. V.S. Vyas (Eminent Economist and member of PM Economic Advisory Committee and Vice Chairman, Rajasthan Planning Board) who chaired as the Chief Guest of the workshop, in his inaugural address, said  that in our country there are 60-70% small farmers, apart from this there are large number of artisans in rural areas whose development is also necessary. In order to make artisan a profitable profession there is a need to increase their expertise in technology development, knowledge about market forces and unity to stand against exploitation.

Prof. Pratibha Jain (Ex. Director, Centre for Gandhian Studies, University of Rajasthan) emphasised on giving protection and financial support to the artisans. She made a very critical point that we leave the traditional craftsman in remote villages and also try to stop support to them,in the form of subsidy and help, but give exemptions and rebates to big industries and businessman in the name of development. There is a need to change this mind-set, drawing inspiration from the thinking and experiments of Gandhiji.

The consultation was also addressed by Sh. Banwarilal Gaur (President, Bhartiya Adim Jati Sewak Sangh), Sh. Laxmichand Bhandari (Member, All India Khadi Gramodyog Board) and Sh. Ramdas Sharma (Member, KVIC). All of them were of the opinion if want to solve the problems of rural India the Gandhian way, then we will have to make serious efforts for the development of artisans and its craftsmanship. Artisan from nearby town Sanganer, Sh. Brij Ballabh Udaiwal referred to the problems faced by artisans in availing projects from government, the working pattern of government officials is such that artisan is afraid of approaching them, he feels cheated. On this occasion Mrs. Sushila Chauhan from Parbatsar (Nagaur), Mrs. Mridula Chandra from Bassi (Jaipur), Mr. Gopal Mistri from Shivdaspura (Jaipur) and Mr. Rajendra Kumbhaj from Sanganer (Jaipur) also expressed their views on the problems of artisans in the villages and opportunities lying ahead of them.

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