RuTAG Conference (RTDD-2018)

Rural Technology Development and Delivery: RuTAG and its Synergy with other Initiatives

1^st International Conference of Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG)

March 9-11, 2018

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India

About   RuTAG                                                                                                                                               

Rural  Technology  Action  Group  (RuTAG)  is  a programme  conceptualized  and  initiated  by Principal  Scientific  Adviser  (PSA)  to  the  Govt.  of India,  R.  Chidambaram in 2003-04.  The coordination  of  RuTAG  activities  has  been assigned  to  seven  IITs  (Delhi,  Bombay,  Kanpur, Roorkee,  Guwahati,  Kharagpur,  Madras)  and University  of  Jammu.  Each  RuTAG  centre/ chapter  is  assigned  a  few  neighbouring  states  to coordinate  their  activities.  RuTAG  was  conceived to provide a higher level of S&T interventions and support  by  the  IITs  and  other  technical institutions/R&D  organisations.  The  intervention, which  essentially  is  demand-driven,  is  to  reduce technology gaps, upgrade technology,  technology training  and  demonstration  through  some innovative  methods.  RuT AG  attempts  to  bring about  a  successful  interface  between  the  rural majority  and  technical  institutions  of  excellence through a field-level S&T organisation. The  RuTAG  IIT  Delhi  is  one  such  entity  which was  established  in  January,  2009.  IIT  Delhi  has been allocated to coordinate the RuTAG activities in  the  states  of  Madhya  Pradesh,  Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.

About the Conference

This  conference  envisages  to  bring  the  RuTAG faculty  and  students  from  eight  RuTAG  centres together  to  discuss  their  achievements, difficulties,  challenges  and  the  way  forward  in next  10-15  years.  In  addition,  other  organizations working  in  the  similar  directions  are  also  invited to  submit  papers  and  participate  to  evolve  a sustainable synergy among ourself. 

Another  important  objective  of  the  conference  is  to demonstrate  how  the  rural  problems  can  be  treated as  research  challenges  so  that  the  main  stream researchers  take  interest  in  order  to  get  quality publications  (which  helps  in  the  documentation  and awareness  generation  throughout  the  World,  not  to mention  satisfying  the  criteria  for  the  career advancement)  while  solving  socially  relevant problems.  It  is  expected  that  such activities  among our  younger  generation  will  make  them  more conscious  about  the  grass  root  level  social  issues enabling  them  to  bring  new  technological  solutions in  the  form  of  appropriate  designs  or  entrepreurship models  for  the  benefit  of  the  rural  masses.   As  a result,  not  only  the  standard  of  living  of  the  majority of  the  rural  population  should  improve  but  also  their economies. The  other  issues  the  conference  will  focus on 'Dissemination',  and  'Scaling  of  Rural  Innovations', and  possibility  of  funding  through  other  Schemes  of the  Government  like  the  Department  of  North-East Region  (DoNER)  initiative,  and  the  National Backward  Class  Financial  Development Corporation (NBCFDC) programmes, etc.

Like  any  other  well-reputed  and  well-respected conferences  in  the  area  of  S&T,  all  submitted papers  in  this  conference  will  undergo  a peer-review  process. Accepted papers  will  be presented  and  published  in  the  form  of proceedings  which  will  be  the  testimony  to RuTAG and  similar  activities.  Springer has in-principle agreed to bring out the proceedings. Poster presentations will be  done  mainly  to  encourage students  to  submit  their  RuTAG  and  similar projects.  Exhibitions on 2-3 different technologies developed at each IIT will also be displayed.

Key  Features

1.  Full length papers; Poster presentations 

2.  Publication of  proceeding by a reputed publisher (Springer has agreed in-principle)

3.  Prototype demonstrations by the participants

4.  Exhibition stalls by companies/NGOs/others

5.  Panel discussions

6.  Free  registration for all accepted papers and Posters

Conference Themes

In  the  salient  domains  of  rural  technologies  such  as Energy, Crafts, Transportation, etc.  the main  themes for  paper  presentation  and  deliberation  during  the Conference will focus on the following aspects:

1.   Salient  achievements  and  success  stories  in developing  and  disseminating  innovative  rural technology interventions

2.   Integrating  the  RuTAG  activities  with  mainstream R&D, student projects and other academic inputs in technical institutions

3.   Quality  research potential  and challenges  in  the domain of  sustainable  rural  development  and appropriate technologies

4.   Viable  rural  entrepreneurship  models  evolved  and successfully implemented

5.   Training  modules  for  rural  entrepreneurship and working  with  S&T  based  voluntary  organizations engaged in rural development

6.   Strategies  for  scaling-up  the  RuTAG  activities  - involving more and more institution

7.   Strategies  for  Improving  synergy  among  prospective contributors,  technical  institutions  and  field organisations

8.   Networking  to  cope  with  challenges  of  wider dissemination of innovative interventions

9.   Related  issue  such  as  funding,  monitoring, knowledge sharing, training etc.

Important Dates

1.  Call for papers: Sept. 30, 2017  

2.  Full paper submission: Nov. 30, 2017 Dec. 25, 2017 (Date Extended) 

                                         (Guidelines to Authors, Word template of papers)

3.  Review: Dec. 2017 and Jan. 2018

4.  Acceptance: Jan. 31, 2018, Latest by Feb. 15, 2018 

5.  Registration: Feb. 28, 2018

Mentor

Advisory Committee

Local Committee

About the Venue (IIT Delhi)

IIT Delhi is located in Hauz Khas, South Delhi. The institute was formally inaugurated on 17 August 1961. Over the years IIT Delhi has created world class educational platforms dynamically sustained through internationally recognized research based on excellent infrastructural facilities. The faculty and alumni of the institute continue making huge impact in all sectors of society, both in India and abroad. IIT Delhi is known for its immense contributions towards society at large and for science and technology in particular.

IIT Delhi offers Bachelor of Technology in nine different areas and many postgraduate programs under various department and centres. IIT Delhi has 13 department, 11inter-disciplinary centres and 3 school of excellence.

The campus of 325 acres (132 ha) is surrounded by the beautiful Hauz Khas area and monuments such as the Qutub Minar and Lotus Temple. The campus is also close to other educational institutions such as the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, National Institute of Fashion Technology, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and Indian Statistical Institute. Well connected to the major city centres by open and wide roads, the Institute campus is about 19 Km. away from the Delhi Main Railway Station, 14 Km. from the New Delhi Railway Station, 21 Km. from the Inter-State Bus Terminal and 10 Km. from Delhi Airport.

Contact

rutag-conf-2018@mech.iitd.ac.in 

rutagiitdelhi@gmail.com

Website

http://rutag.iitd.ac.in/rutag/?q=conference

Conference Brochure [Click here]

Programme Schedule [Click here]

Conference Souvenir [Click here]

Conference Photographs [Click here]

Consent to Publish Form for Conference Proceedings [Click here]

Springer Guidelines for Authors [Click here]

RTDD 2018 Proceedings [Click here]