Chhattisgarh rural entrepreneurs working in RIPA centres will be outfitted with cutting-edge technology
BARC provided technical assistance to the Chief Minister’s ambitious rural enterprise plan
Initiative to connect youth with job opportunities
Efforts to make the rural economy more dynamic in accordance with the Chief Minister’s vision
Discussions held on establishment of Rural Technical Center and rural entrepreneurship promotion at the State Planning Commission meeting
Raipur, 24 February 2023 / Rural young entrepreneurs’ dreams of working in rural industrial centres established in Gauthans of Chhattisgarh state are about to take on new dimensions. Rural industrial parks, or RIPAs, will now be established in all RIPA centres across Chhattisgarh in collaboration with the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) in Mumbai for rural technology demonstration and training. More than 72 rural economy-based enterprise techniques will be taught to youth in these centres.BARC officials praised the government’s efforts to improve rural economy and employment opportunities in Chhattisgarh and agreed to collaborate in the establishment of rural technical centres in Ripa.
It is worth noting that, as Chief Minister Mr. Baghel has stated, a Rural Industrial Park is being built in 300 Gauthans of the state. The state government has approved Rs 300 crore for this purpose. Several RIPAs have been completed, and various rural enterprises are now operating there. Youth will also be trained in various employment-related businesses, as well as the preparation of various fruits, vegetables, and minor forest produce in rural technical centres.
Meaningful discussions were held at a Planning Commission meeting presided by Shri Ajay Singh, Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Commission, about the establishment of Rural Technical Centers in Ripa and the expansion of the latest technology and units for producing electricity from cow dung. The meeting also decided to establish a main rural technical centre at Indira Gandhi Agricultural University in Raipur.
In the meeting, BARC officials said that youth will be encouraged to join employment by training them in rural technical centres. In these centres, training will be imparted in relation to the method and other methods of making different types of food items from fruits, vegetables and forest produce. Smt. Sushma Taishete, Joint Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India appreciated the vision and initiative of the State regarding power generation from cow dung and food irradiation technology in the State. She assured cooperation in setting up rural technical centres in all the rural industrial parks established in the state. BARC scientists Dr. Gautam and Dr. S.T. Mehetre gave information about the modern radiation technology regarding the preservation of food items for a long time.
Meanwhile, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Mr. Pradeep Sharma, spoke at the meeting about power generation from cow dung in the state, noting that Chhattisgarh is the country’s largest vermicompost producing state. He spoke about the possibilities of food irradiation technology in the state and how it can generate income. Shri Sharma anticipated technical assistance from BARC while providing information on the protection and utility of mahua, tamarind, tomato, and other minor forest produce, as well as other products in the state.
In the meeting, the Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Commission Shri Ajay Singh termed the discussion as meaningful. Describing the abundance of forest resources in the state, he drew attention to the wide availability of paddy and minor forest produce, herbal medicines and asked BARC to share its techniques in this regard. He also informed about the purchase of 65 minor forest produce in the state at the support price by the government and asked the representatives of the departments to discuss with BARC and the Government of India and initiate further action.
Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Prof. Girish Chandel, CEO of Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority, Mr. Sumit Sarkar informed about the work being done in the state regarding bio-energy production and food irradiation through his presentation. In this regard, Energy Department Secretary Mr. Ankit Anand mentioned the need to take advantage of the Govardhan Yojana of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
In the meeting, Joint Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, Mrs. Sushma Taishete, Bhabha Atomic Research Center scientist Dr. S. Gautam, Dr. S.T. Mehetre, Member Secretary of State Planning Commission Mr. Anoop Kumar Srivastava, Secretary of Energy Department Mr. Ankit Anand, Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Prof. Girish Chandel, CEO of Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority Mr. Sumit Sarkar, Nodal of Rural Industrial Park Mr. Gaurav Singh, Secretary of Forest Department Mr. Prem Kumar, Managing Director of Minor Forest Produce Association Mr. Anand Babu and representatives of other departments were present.
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