Building IITB’s capacity to engage in regional development challenges CTARA, IIT Bombay 29 th December 2015

The basic argument Maharashtra’s Development Demands Civil amenities (water, energy, transport etc.), livelihoods, SMEs Need for Knowledge, New Practices, New Research New Job Profiles, Avenues for Professionals The role of University and Higher Education Knowledge Structures, Key Areas Scope for building IITB’s capacity to fulfill this role

Severe stress in key areas Basic issues of Water Energy Health Livelihoods This stress is rampant in our own neighborhood – Thane, Palghar, Raigad IITB is well-positioned to provide impactful knowledge inputs

CTARA programs and entities MTech & PhD programmes TDSL TDSC UBA Rutag Training of IITB students: exposure to the development space, tools, protocols and skills Delivering solutions: knowledge inputs required to directly address the basic needs of the bottom 80%

Background on TDSC Technology and Development Solutions Cell Formed: January 2014 Objectives 1.Address professional service requirements of regional bodies like municipal corporations and GPs 2.Develop service model for the bottom 80% that engages young engineers 3.Formulate development protocols and case studies for dissemination to regional colleges 4.Provide a launching pad for entrepreneurial careers in the development sector

TDSC Projects – Past and Present Watershed interventions in Kurlod-Botoshi, Mokhada taluka Aroehan (NGO), Siemens CSR Analysis of water and energy losses in Parbhani city’s water supply system Parbhani Municipal Corporation Design of a rural water supply system for Tembha village, Shahapur Sir Dorabji Tata Trust In-house R&D Low-cost water level sensor App for collecting and analysis of survey data Upcoming Jal Yukt Shivar audit in Palghar district PWS audit and consulting in Thane district Solid waste management and ESR pilot study in Parbhani city

What is RuTAG Concept by Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India RuTAG - a mechanism to achieve rural advancements through S&T interventions RuTAG cells are located in 8 IITs –Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee and Ropar RuTAG at IIT Bombay – established in focuses on the rural areas of western India (Maharashtra,Gujarat and Goa) 7

RuTAG current approach Identification of real life projects through field visits NGO plays a pivotal role Project concepts approved and funded by O/o PSA Gadget/tool/machine to be the deliverable Stakeholder involvement IIT Faculty play key role (design machine/ tool) Dissemination through the NGO Impact assessment

Factors affecting success of RuTAG project RuTAG project Identificatio n of suitable problem Availability of funds Availability of Students /Technocrats Availability of IITB faculty

RuTAG -- Way forward ……. Engaging more and more faculty for projects – Create excitement for IITB faculty – Engaging faculty from local engineering colleges – Engaging faculty from other institutes related to rural development e.g. agricultural universities Attracting students to work on projects – Organize filed visits for students – Provide academic credit to IITB students for working on RuTAG project – Recruit students from local/ other engineering colleges – Provide stipend/ internship to students

Generating more Funds for RuTAG projects – Funds from IITB (institutional funds) – CSR funds from corporate – Patents Identification of suitable problems – Creating a strong NGO network – NGO workshops – Field visits

Framework of Engagement

Government Resolutions by GoM GR-Water and SanitationGR-Higher & Technical Education 10

Role of Knowledge inputs Example: Public Transport Monitoring and Execution: Maintaining schedules. Executing standard procedures. Organizing information, material and financial flows. Evaluation and Assessment: On-time performance, Load analysis, Inventory utilization. Cost-benfit analysis. Customer satisfaction. Planning: Economic models, GIS, Optimization frameworks. Failure Analysis: Particular events. Under-performance in some localities. Cause analysis. Feasibility Analysis: New routes or new depots. New ticketing systems.

Need of the hour: New research paradigm, New faculty Current approach is top-down – Funding is from the top e.g. DST. – Researcher is not accountable to the intended beneficiary A better model: – Funding/request for research should come from the stakeholder -- demand-driven – Output should be solution- oriented New faculty is required to grow and direct TDSC, RuTaG, UBA There is need for faculty from all engineering disciplines Faculty must share a common philosophy: – Research for regional development is important – Research and design process should be Iterative Field-based Stakeholder-centric Interdisciplinary

CTARA Academic Programs Academic Programs MTech in Technology and Development (TD) PhD Technology and Development Supervised Learning (TDSL) course Minor in Technology and Development for BTech students Student Enrollment M Tech.64 (current) Ph. D20 (current) TDSL> 500 since 2010 Strong emphasis on field work TDSL - B Tech. fieldwork intensive course with 4-5 field visits TD Field stay (10 weeks field stay in a village) TD Soil, Land use GIS, Agriculture TD Appropriate Technology TD Development Protocol TD Water Resource Management

Past TDSL topics