Technology Transfer to Rural Population through Secondary Schools: The Vigyan Ashram Experience

In this age of technology and globalization, we still see that the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged is widening rapidly. It is necessary to multiply the pace of development by several times to achieve equality & prosperity. Use of new technologies for livelihood generation can help us increase productivity and efficiency. But there are a number of difficulties in transferring new technologies to the masses. Communities resist change due to lack of knowledge, inability to invest or take risks in trying new approaches. Also the complexities in new technologies do not inspire people's confidence. Vigyan Ashram in India has been trying to engage secondary schools as a medium of transferring new technologies to villages and demystifying them for ease of accessibility. New technologies are introduced to the students of secondary schools as a part of their curriculum and project work. The program is called 'Introduction to Basic Technology (IBT)'. 20% of the time in school is given for 'hands-on learning' of these technologies. Students provide technology based services to their own communities in practice. These technologies are learned, practiced and experimented upon, in school and the school becomes a demonstration centre for community. Vigyan Ashram has introduced more than 40 appropriate rural technologies to 92 secondary schools which in turn provide technological services to 300 plus villages. This paper will present a case of integrating school education and development programs in community. This also helps in making school education more relevant to the students. It is observed that it also helps the students in increasing their understanding of the subjects like science and mathematics. It brings down the absenteeism among school children. A number of students get introduced to their field of interest and choose their future vocation through this program. Many children came up with innovative solutions for the problems of their communities.