To communicate with the weaker section of the society Bose Institute has started a Rural Biotechnology Programme. Out of seven campuses of Bose Institute Falta Experimental Farm was chosen as the Centre for Rural Biotechnology Programme. On recommendation of Scientific Advisory Committee Rural Biotechnology Programme was initiated at Falta Experimental Farm in 2008. From 2013 another societal programme was initiated under the umbrella of Rural Biotechnology Programme named Scheduled Tribe Specific Rural Biotechnology Programme as one of the core programmes of the Institute with a special fund from DST, Government of India.

Scheduled Tribe-Specific Rural Biotechnology Programme:

Under this programme we are working for the economic and sustainable development of the Scheduled Tribe people of West Bengal. The programmes we have undertaken are 1. Rain water harvesting for drinking purpose, 2. Rain water harvesting for toilet purpose, 3. Rain water harvesting for irrigation purpose, 4. Orchard development, 5. Agriculture with regulated irrigation, 6. Vermicompost production, 7. Apiculture, 8. Fishery, 9. Sericulture, 10. Chicken bird rearing, 11. Duck rearing, 12. Goat rearing, 13. Pig rearing, 14. Animal Health Camp, 15. Mushroom cultivation, 16. Food processing and 17. Handicrafts.

Where are we working?

We believe in training through implementation. So instead of training within the four walls of the Institute we start introduction at the Institute and then go straight to villages and work with the villagers throughout the year. At present we are working in 80 villages covering five districts of West Bengal namely, Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Pashchim Medinipur and South 24-Parganas.

Mode of work:

We are working in two modes, i.e., 1. Direct mode through Departmental machinery. Here Bose Institute is working directly in the project sites and NGO’s involvement is not mandatory. If any NGO involves in it, it works as co-partner without any financial involvement. After developing a base, the work will be handed over to the local self-help groups (SHG) or NGOs for its sustainability. 2. NGO mode: In this mode work is done through some selected NGOs through funding. Regular onsite monitoring is done for effective implementation of each and every programme. In the Direct Mode some of our project staffs always remain stationed at the project site throughout the year as member of their family to guide/train them in their day to day activity. The project staffs also visit the NGO sites time to time for guidance and monitoring.

How do we work?

Through some personal or NGO contact we visit and survey tribal areas, conduct group meetings with the villagers, aware them about our programmes & activities. If at least 10% of the villagers agree to work as per our guideline and sufficient land is available to work, we start working in that village or area.

Awareness and Training:

We conduct awareness and training programmes on all the scheduled topics at our Falta Experimental Farm or at the implementation sites time to time throughout the year and the training schedule is available in our website. We also organize training programme on request from outside organizations. The duration of training programme may vary from 3 days to 30 days depending upon the type and number of training items. The number of trainees we could accommodate per training is maximum of 20. The training fees and other charges are as follows.

Category

Training Fee

General Caste

750

Scheduled Caste & OBC*

500

Scheduled Tribe*

Nil

BPL*

Nil

 

*The trainees of these categories have to submit proof of their caste certificate/BPL certificate from the competent authority for this exemption. For food and lodging, the trainees have to pay charges as follows. For 3-5 days training programme the charge is Rs 1,000/-, for 7-12 days training programme Rs 1,500/- and for 30 days training programme Rs 3,000/-. The scheduled tribe and BPL trainees will be exempted from paying accommodation charges on submission of respective certificates from the competent authority.

Our Achievements (2013-14 to 2015-16):

§  Within 2 ½ year Bose Institute could spread its activity in more than 80 tribal villages covering 5 districts of West Bengal.

§  Constructed 36 concrete tanks (2,000 L capacity) for rainwater harvesting for drinking purpose.

§  Constructed 10 concrete tanks (2,000 L capacity) for rainwater harvesting for toilet use.

§  Constructed 22 poly-ponds (L: 20'-22' x B: 20' x D: 7'-9') having 40,000L – 1,00,000L capacity for harvesting rain water for irrigation purpose.

§  Developed 250 bigha orchard in Purulia, Bankura and Pashchim Medinipur.

§  Established 2 community mulberry sericulture covering 15 bigha land including mulberry plantation and rearing house one in Bhutadhi village, Block: Manbazar 2, District: Purulia and the other one in Chhachanpur village, Block: Chhatna, District: Bankura. About 3,000 man days were utilized in the 1st year in each village in sericulture activity. About 1,000 kg silk cocoons were produced and about 1.25 lakhs mulberry saplings worth Rs. 2,50,000/- were produced.

§  Constructed 81 vermicompost pits in 5 districts.

§  Provided poultry birds to 413 tribal beneficiaries.

§  Provided pigs to 102 beneficiaries.

§  Provided goats to 251 beneficiaries.

§  Provided sheep to 5 beneficiaries.

§  Distributed 47 bee-keeping boxes to the tribal beneficiaries.

§  Conducted 13 Animal Health Camps in Purulia, Birbhum, Pashchim Medinipur and Sunderban.

§  Support fishery programme to 31 beneficiaries.

§  Promote mushroom cultivation to 96 beneficiaries.

§  Promote kitchen gardening to 79 beneficiaries.

§  Provided agricultural support to 156 beneficiaries


Contact:


E-mail: rbpfalta@jcbose.ac.in


Coordinator, Rural Biotechnology Programme. Bose Institute, Falta Experimental Farm, Vill: Falta, PO + PS: Falta, District: 24 Parganas (S) WB 743 504


Coordinator, Rural Biotechnology Programme, Bose Institute, Centenary Campus, P-1/12, C.I.T. Scheme VII M, Kankurgachhi, Kolkata 700 054.