Community Polytechnic wing

(Direct central assistance scheme of Ministry of Human Resource Development Govt. of India)

Started in - 1991

Goal :                 

 The rural development in all respect is the need of current time to stop urbanization and also to save agricultural sector. The technical institutes are equipped with physical facilities in the form of building, lecture halls, laboratories, workshop which can be used for liking centers of rural community.

            Polytechnic have qualified and trained faculty who can scientifically formulate, implement and monitor rural oriented programme epically technical problems etc. For the above interface science and technology inputs can be transferred to the community by arranging skilled training technology transfer programme and organizing support services. Through financial assistance from ministry of Human Resources Development, Departments of Higher education . Govt. of India.

1.         OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME 

        1.1       The broad objectives of the scheme are:- 

                                I.      To provide a Community-Institute interface so that Science & technology inputs can be transferred to the community through skills training, technology transfer and organization of support services;

                             II.     Ensuring for the rural society a fair share of benefits from the investments in technical education system and thus bringing socio-economic upliftment and improvement of quality of life of rural community and 

                           III.      To sensitize students and faculty of polytechnics towards live problems of the community needing science & technology inputs. 

       1.2      The major operational activities of the scheme 

                                I.      To ascertain the felt needs of the community through techno-economic social survey, job potential survey, etc; 

                             II.      To become focal points for technology transfer; 

                           III.      To train youth, women, and other disadvantaged groups in  employable skills; 

                          IV.      To provide technical and other support services for improving local capabilities; and  

                             V.      To create awareness regarding development programs for creating problem solving environment.

2.         ACTIVITIES OF COMMUNITY POLYTECHNICS 

            2.1       Following are the major activities identified for the      Community Polytechnics.

            i.          Socio economic survey  

            ii.          Manpower development 

            iii.         Transfer of technology  

            iv.         Technical Services 

            v.         Support Services 

            vi.         Dissemination of Information 

          2.2       Socio-economic survey, job potential survey 

                                I.    Community Polytechnic shall undertake the Socio-economic technical survey of the area selected for activities. Such a survey should lead to determination of the felt needs and identification of the direction in which the rural development efforts are likely to bring quicker results.

                             II.     Based on the outcomes of these surveys, the polytechnic should prepare detailed time bound " Annual Operational Plan " indicating therein, objectives, targets to be accomplished in measurable terms, resource needs, implementation processes, complete time schedule for each activity to attain set objectives and monitoring and evaluation mechanism. The detailed plan should also identify clearly the responsibilities and functions of all such governmental and non governmental agencies whose involvement is considered necessary. 

          2.3       Manpower Development  

In order that the human resource is developed for gainful employment, the training must be need based, and should provide employable skills. All training preferably be competency based and well designed through graded exercises, keeping in view the market requirements for various trades. Short term non-formal, modular courses of 3-6 months duration, depending on the local needs and commensurate with the available local resources with proper structures, yet having the desired flexibility to pave the way for self-paced open learning mode ( OLM ), should be offered. In most cases, Multi-skill training may be offered to make self-employment viable in the rural economy preferences may be given to the training courses with technical bias. 

          2.4       Transfer of Technology 

            A large number of technologies have been developed by various research institutions and  laboratories in the from of appropriate technologies. But, the benefits of these technologies have failed to reach the rural population. The villagers could not adopt these modern technologies and implements to improve productivity, and, in turn, their quality of life, since the process of transfer was not under taken in a planned manner. It is in this context that the Community Polytechnics play a very significant role. this is done systematically by: 

                                      I.      Collecting details of all available appropriate technologies fro various agencies and organizations engaged in research and development of appropriate technologies through TTTIs and by other means, adapting them to suit local conditions with regular and relevant feedback from extension Centers and disseminating, through demonstrations , these technologies in villages and thus helping villagers to appreciate and adopt technological innovations.

                                   II.     Creating awareness among the villagers about the new advances made in the field of energy, rural water Supply, sanitation, Shelter, Habitat, Communication & Transportation, Agro-based and Non-conventional rural Energy Sources, construction and service Sector, etc.

                                 III.     Helping the villagers through the technical services and support services to install, maintain, and sustain appropriate technologies like agriculture implements, energy devices, rural environment.

                                IV.      Developing innovative strategies for mass involvement of rural people for transfer and to sustain technologies far and wide.

                                   V.      Assisting establishment of display cum demonstration centers in the village so that awareness of rural technologies can be created.

                                VI.     Introducing modern gadgets and machinery for generating employment in rural areas.  

              2.5       Technical Services 

   In rural areas, a large number of equipments are being used in farm and non farm sector. For their sustained working , proper repair and maintenance services are to be provided. they also require technical help to solve their practical problems. the Community Polytechnic help to solve their practical problems. The Community Polytechnic helps the villagers and other agencies to take up this work by organizing. 

                                      I.     Minor repairs of the equipments through Extension Centers and also at site.

                                   II.      Service centers to serve a cluster of villages.

                                 III.      Promotion of service centers and repair shops to be set up by villagers themselves.

                                IV.      Technical service camps in villages at regular intervals.

                                   V.     Extending consultancy services at village level through trained manpower.

                                VI.      Concept of Production-cum-training is to be introduced at the Extension Centers so as to undertake production of items which are needed by the community and for which the raw materials are locally available and provided by the villagers. these centers could also impart training to rural youth for self-employment. 

             2.6       Support Services 

            In addition to technical services mentioned above, the villagers also need support of other kinds for their professional improvement to widen the scope of  their activities, and to enhance their productivity. the kind of support needed may vary widely from a mere psychological boost in some cases to completed guidance in acquiring loans, supply of raw  materials ,acquisition of necessary know-how, development  or marketing and distributing facilities to others suggestive list of Support Services is given at Annexure-E

            2.7       Dissemination of Information 

            Assimilation and dissemination of information on rural development is another important activity. this can be done through publication and distribution of technical Literatures containing information useful to the rural people. For this purpose, all communication media such as leaflets, brochures, filmstrips ,video films and other audio visual aids are used. To promote these activities some of the approaches, which are to be as follows:- 

                                                  I.  Providing information through exhibitions at village extension Centers

                                               II.       Organizing youth clubs, Mahila Mandal, farmers' clubs etc.

                                             III.     Organizing special exhibitions, community workshop, seminars, etc. in villages.

                                            IV.      Using mass media like video films, films radio & television networks etc

                                               V.     Organizing technical pilgrimages, demonstration camps, mobile technology exhibitions etc.

                                            VI.      Dissemination of Information to end-user and other community Polytechnic may also be made through various media.