With the objective to offer a platform for the academicians, administrators and researchers to share the opinions and discuss on the issues of rural innovation, technology and Intellectual Property Right (IPR) and to suggest the outcomes of the discussions to the policymakers in the global platform, the Department of Rural Development, USTM in collaboration with School of Agro and Rural Technology, IIT Guwahati organized a two-day International Seminar on “Rural Technology, Innovation & IPR: The Way Ahead” which has ended successfully on March 15 last.
The seminar was supported by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of MSME, Government of India.
North East Training Research and Advocacy Foundation (NETRA Foundation), Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD) and Council for Social & Digital Development were the knowledge partners. Total 68 papers were presented by the scholars from India, Bangladesh, Africa and Australia during the seminar and the presenters emphasised on the importance of technology and identification of rural innovation forms the basis of rural development. The dignitaries were welcomed by the Convener Dr.Papiya Dutta and Organising Secretary Saikat Majumdar.
The Keynote address in the inaugural session of the seminar was delivered by Prof. Sir Bashiru Aremu, UNESCO Laureate, Vice-Chancellor, Crown University Intl. Chartered Inc. and world acclaimed distinguished Prof. Emeritus, Argentina in a virtual mode. He thanked USTM for inviting him and said that the world can be made a better place through information and communication technology. During his lecture, Prof. Ameru also extended his invitation to USTM’s department of Rural Development to join hands with his university for collaborative work.
Earlier, welcoming the guests and all the participants Prof. G. D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor of USTM said that intellectual property right for research is very relevant on both national and international lobby.
Dr. S. Singh from School of Argo & Rural Technology IIT, Guwahati was of the opinion that if rural areas of the country are not developed, India’s survival as a nation will be at stake. “We are the food basket of the world, we have to make technology tool for supporting our farmers”, he added.
Prof DN Dutta, Retd. Dean, College of Agriculture, AAU stated that medical and aromatic plants play a very important role in Indian economy.
Dr Amit Choudhury, Dean, School of Business Science, USTM explained IPR by giving common examples and said that it is important whenever any good creation is concerned. NE is a grand repository of traditional wisdom that really needs to be documented, he added.
The various sessions in the international seminar include: ‘Rural Innovation and Technology’ chaired by Prof. Sanjukta Patra, School of Argo and Rural Technology, IITG; ‘Rural Innovation to Build sustainable Agri and allied Technology’ chaired by Prof. Ramesh Arora; ‘Rural Innovation to promote Medicinal and Aromatic Crop’ chaired by Prof DN Dutta; ‘Documentation Rural Innovation through IPR’ chaired by Prof. Pritam Dev, IPR Chair Professor, Tezpur University; ‘Rural Innovation, Adoption and Diffusion Chairperson’ chaired by Dr. Rupak Goswami, Associate Professor, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, WB; ‘Rural Innovation systems, policies and governance’ chaired by Dr. Hilaria Soundari, The Gandhi Gram Rural Institute, Tamil Nadu; ‘Rural Innovation and Technology to expedite entrepreneurship’ chaired by Prof. Suresh Bhagavatula, Centre for Entrepreneurship, IIM Bangalore, Karnataka; ‘Rural Innovation to achieve sustainable Development Goals’ chaired by Dr. Jayanta Choudhury, Tripura University. The valedictory session was graced by Dr. Sukamal Deb, Dy. CEO, KVIC, North East Zone and Dr. Syed Kazi, Director, CSDD, Guwahati.