Technological Advancement for Rural Areas (TARA)

Women weavers from Dudhwa Tiger Reserve profit from technological interventions for their looms
These technological interventions realized with funding support under TARA Scheme of Science for Equity, Empowerment & Development (SEED) Division, Department of Science & Technology (DST)

Ministry:Ministry of Science and Technology

This scheme under SEED programmes is essentially to provide long term core support to Science based Voluntary Organizations/field institutions to promote and nurture them as “S&T Incubators” / “Active Field Laboratories” in rural and other disadvantaged areas to work and provide technological solutions and effective delivery of technologies for livelihood generation & societal benefits.

Focus to support innovation (i.e. technology development/adaptation) & working technology system with multiplication.
Long-term Action Research Programmes with defined goals for development, field testing and adoption of appropriate technologies to address location specific needs rather than “institutional support”..
Focus sharply on demonstrable replicability and enterprise models: shift to non farm and service sectors.
Especially to support core S&T manpower otherwise difficult to retain in grassroot organizations.
Strengthen a network of S&T capable organizations in the country for application and propagation of appropriate technologies to address location-specific user needs through participatory approach.

Organizations with minimum 10 years field level experience in rural technology development and management with proven capability of delivering technology model(s) through adaptive R & D for field level application.
Having minimum infrastructure to work as a core supported group (CSG), like land and demonstrate working relations with Panchayats/State Govt. from long-term sustainability point of view.
The organization should have experience in handling projects having focus on S&T with support from scientific departments of Govt. of India.
Selection is based on initial scrutiny at the department level/presentation of proposal before the expert committee . Based on the recommendation of the expert committee, the proposal is further evaluated by an on-site evaluation by the expert team to assess the need, capability and delivery potential of the organization for proposed programme/activities. After on the spot evaluation, the proposal along with assessment report of the visiting expert team is examined by the expert committee for final recommendation

If approved, core funding is provided initially for a period of five to ten years subject to periodic review which may be expandable upto fifteen years and more.

Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development (SEED)

Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development (SEED) Division has been set up under the Department of Science and Technology, established with the broad objectives of providing opportunities to motivated scientists and field level workers to take up action oriented and location specific projects aiming towards socio-economic upliftment of poor and disadvantaged sections of the society through appropriate technological interventions especially in the rural areas.
Under this program efforts have been made to associate concerned National Labs or other specialist S&T institutions with each major program so as to build-in expert input, utilize national S&T infrastructure and link it up with grassroots S&T interventions/initiatives.

Core Support Programme

Under the Core Support Programme, selected voluntary organizations with adequate scientific and technical expertise have been identified and provided long-term core support with a view of nurturing them into Centres of Excellence for Rural Development.
Under this unique programme, these voluntary groups are able to strengthen and retain scientific manpower for long duration to work at the grassroots level on location specific problems and provide innovative solutions through S&T interventions related to different sectors of rural economy.

Objectives & Mandate

To support S & T based NGOs/S & T institutions/Colleges/Universities throughout the country to take up innovative grants in aid projects at the grassroots level with various schemes targeted for different sections of the society to address location and occupation specific problems.
Catalyze and support research, development and adaptation of relevant and appropriate technologies for empowering and improving quality of life of Artisans, Landless labour, Women, SC/ST and other disadvantaged sections, particularly in rural areas.
Preserve and upgrade skills of traditional artisans as “natural carriers” of S&T knowledge/ capabilities and enable their transition to S&T – based production organizations.
Need-based, location specific and appropriate S&T intervention for economically viable, ecologically sustainable and socially acceptable development
“Bottom-up” rather than top-down programme planning with full community involvement.
Evolve and demonstrate replicable models of S&T – based development for benefit of disadvantaged sections; and
Catalyze linkages with Developmental Agencies/ Departments and Financial Institutions so as to promote integration of these models with wider developmental processes.