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The Biotechnology based programme for society has three components specifically aimed at Women, SC/ST population and the rural community. More than 53,000 families have been benefited so far. The programme has had a far reaching impact on the target population as it is primarily aimed at economic empowerment of the community through the application of biotechnology. The major areas through which DBT supports the beneficiaries are biopesticides, biofrtilizer application; organic farming, cultivation of mushrooms, medicinal and aromatic plants, sericulture, processed food, floriculture etc. In addition, the programme has also rendered health counseling services particularly to people afflicted with genetic disorders, about 19,000 people have benefited through counseling. The Department also has undertaken special programmes for the relief of earthquake victims at Latur, Uttarkashi and Bhuj. These programmes have received wide appreciation.
Women Biotechnology
Programme for Rural Areas
SC/ST Population
Women Biotechnology
1. Main thrust of activities
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To develop, promote and use biotechnological processes and tools for entrepreneurship development and provide employment opportunities to women.
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To set up integrated facilities for economic empowerment of urban as well as rural women. Such a facility - Golden Jubilee Biotechnology Women's Park aims to establish linkages between research institutions and industrial units has been set up. The Park will also scale up the basic technologies for commercial utilization, and impart training in relevant areas to develop a pool of skilled and well trained women. The Park will evolve cooperation among women entrepreneurs and the corporate sector for joint marketing strategies.
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To support R&D projects specifically addressing the problems of women or for developing technology packages relevant to them.
2. Achievements
During this period, 48 projects were supported in 21 States and Union Territories. These projects have benefited over 18,000 women through training in various areas such as food processing, sericulture, mushroom cultivation, micropropagation of orchids and other ornamental plants, biofertilizer production, goat and poultry rearing, fish farming, rabbit rearing for quality wool production and establishment of nurseries of medicinal and aromatic plants as well as formulation of certain herbal products. Many more families are benefited indirectly through awareness on genetic disorders and counseling. Women trained for entrepreneurship on floriculture, vermicomposting, fruit processing, food technology, poultry rearing have set up their own units and are earning upto Rs. 3,000 p.m by selling their products.
Awareness of genetic disorders and counseling
The project aimed to know the spectrum of genetic disorders of congenital malformations prevalent in the area and to educate women about the causative factors of infant mortality. In addition, families of six villages in vicinity of Lucknow were educated on various genetic disorders through expert lectures, poster display, training of village level health workers, doctors' visit and their meetings with various women groups. Blood samples of around 6,000 families collected, screened for various genetic disorders especially for thalacemia and the couples are being counseled.
Golden Jubliee Biotecnology Park for Women
The Park has been established as a part of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of India's Independence. The Park, a Joint Project with Tamil Nadu State Govt. aims to provide opportunities for professionally qualified women to take up a career of remunerative self-employment through environment-friendly biotechnological enterprises. This has been registered under the Societies Registration Act and has its own bye-laws and all the activities are managed by a Governing Body. The Park is located in Siruseri and spread over twenty acres of land. It has 20 industrial modules and 40 land modules for agro-biotechnology activities apart from centralized facilities for technology resourcing, training, testing and marketing. Out of the 20 pre-built industrial modules, 12 were allotted to women entrepreneurs on lease basis, for starting their production activities related to ornamental fish, herbal products, fortified salts and food products. Seven of them started production and commercialization of herbal cosmetics, biofertilizers and biopesticides, spices powders fortified with herbs & greens, essential oils. The park has raised a herbal garden as a live gene bank. A database was created to assist the prospective entrepreneurs to identify viable projects to be taken up at the Park.
Sixteen projects continuing from the previous years are being supported during the year 2002-03. Besides, one new project has been sponsored in poultry farming.
3. New initiatives for the 10th plan:
During the Tenth plan the priority will be:
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To implement projects in Biotechnology areas for technical empowerment and economic benefit of women.
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To support R& D projects specifically for addressing the health and nutritional related problems of women
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To undertake projects for entrepreneurship development in biotechnology.
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