Minutes of the Core Group meeting of RuTAG IIT Delhi held on February 01, 2019  in the Mech.Engg.Seminar Room (II-422), IITD 

February 19, 2019

1. Prof. R. R. Gaur, Chairman, Core Group, RuTAG IIT Delhi
2. Prof. S. K. Saha, Coordinator/PI, RuTAG IIT Delhi
3. Prof. Sangeeta Kohli, Co-PI, RuTAG IIT Delhi
4. Prof. M. R. Ravi, Co-PI, RuTAG IIT Delhi
5. Prof. Debabrata Dasgupta, ME, IIT Delhi
6. Prof. Deepak Kumar, ITMMEC, IIT Delhi
7. Prof. R. Chattopadhyay, Textile Engg., IIT Delhi
8. Prof. S. P. Singh, ME, IIT Delhi
9. Prof. Rama Krishna K., ME, IIT Delhi
10. Mr. Hemant Sharma, Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, (NGO Expert)
11. Dr. Susha Lekshmi, Project Consultant (part-time), RuTAG IIT Delhi
12. Mr. Davinder Pal Singh, Project Associate, RuTAG IIT Delhi
13. Mr. Raj Kumar Gupta, Senior Project Assistant, RuTAG IIT Delhi
14. Mr. Suraj Bhat, Research Scholar, RuTAG IIT Delhi
15. Mr. Yashwant Prasad, Project Associate, RuTAG IIT Delhi
16. Mr. Mangal Sharma, Project Attendant, RuTAG IIT Delhi
17. Mr. Harsh Sharma, Assistant on Contract
18. Ms. Kanika Prajapat, Research Associate, Textile Engg., IIT Delhi
19. Mr. Sumit Kumar, Project Associate, ME, IIT Delhi
20. Mr. Ayush, B. Tech. Student, ME, IIT Delhi
21. Ms. Prabitha Shaji, Project Assistant, RuTAG IIT Delhi

Prof. S. K. Saha welcomed all the members of the core group, PIs. and Co-PIs. of RuTAG IIT Delhi sub-projects, NGOs expert/field agency and project staffs. With the permission of the Chairman, he started the proceedings of the meeting. 

A. Status of all Projects:

Prof. Saha explained briefly of all the activities (i.e. on-going projects, completed projects, visits, exhibitions, publications, etc.) of RuTAG IIT Delhi. He informed the committee members that funding agency has decided to continue RuTAG activities under new project entitled “RuTAG Centre at IIT Delhi Developing Demand Driven Technology for Rural Areas” for the period of three years from October 01, 2018 to September 30, 2021 (Phase-II). Previous RuTAG IIT Delhi project entitled “Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) IIT Delhi” started from March 09, 2009 to November 30, 2018 will be considered closed.

He also mentioned the remaining work of on-going projects would be taken up as Phase-II from October 01, 2018. He requested to all concerned PIs, concept note for the Phase–II and final reports of the completed projects to be submitted as soon as possible. 

a.On-going Projects (with Concept Note):

i. Dissemination of Improved Metallic Carpet Looms Developed by IIT Delhi for Carpet Ceavers at Jaipur, Rajasthan. PI: Prof. S. K. Saha, ME, IIT Delhi

Prof. Saha told that carpet three looms fabrication/manufacturing is under progress and will be delivered soon. One loom will be given to Rajasthan Carpet and Woollen Products Development Society (RCWPDS), Jaipur, Rajasthan, another one will be given to Rastra Chenetha Jana Samakhya (RCJS), H-34, Jandrapet, Chirala, Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, and third one to Shramdaan, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh for taking users feedback and would be done modification accordingly.

Decision: Committee appreciated the work. 

ii.Prevention of Stone Dust Inhalation for Stone Carvers at Bharatpur, Rajasthan. PIs: Dr. Debabrata Dasgupta, Dr. Bahni Ray, ME, IIT Delhi.

Dr. Debabrata Dasgupta summarized the current status of the project. He informed that the concept note had been submitted and the work will be started soon. He explained the objectives and the tentative approach to the solution. Some of the tentative solutions included filters, constrained workspace and tool attachments.

Decision: The committee agreed to the proposed approach 

i.Improvement of Furnace for Bangles Making and the Working Conditions of Artisans. PI: Prof. S. Kohli, Co-PIs: Prof. M. R. Ravi and Prof. S. K. Saha.

Mr. Davinder Pal Singh summarized the current status of the project. He mentioned that two different models of the furnaces were introduced and tested at Unch village. Earthen used furnace was ideal for more than six months. It was found that the refractory material didn’t worked as per expected. Although more than 70% fuel saving were obtained. It was also decided to shift the furnace to Hasela village in U.P. but due to land negotiation with Panchyat, the transfer of furnace was put on hold.

The committee asked Mr. Hemanth Sharma to give suggestions of the next phase of the project. Committee also suggested that civil work will be taken care by Lupin foundation Bharatpur, and repair work of furnace would be carried out by RuTAG IIT Delhi.

Decision: The committee decided to shift the furnace to the cluster in the Unch village and asked Mr. Davinder to visit and check the feasibility of transfer.

ii.Design and Development of Efficient and Less Polluting Potters Kiln Furnace at Bharatpur. P.I: Prof. M. R. Ravi and Prof. Sangeeta Kohli, ME, IIT Delhi.

Mr. Davinder Pal Singh informed the committee that the project was completed successfully. He informed that the furnace was built at the site as per the suggested designs and is currently being used by the artisans in the Unch village, Bharatpur. He also mentioned the reduction in fuel about 40% and capital costs. He also assured to the committee that the artisan would be beneficial by shifting to the new furnace.

Decision: The committee appreciated the work.

iii.Improvements in the Batasha Making Process and Stove at Karauli, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. P.I: Dr. Vinay Gupta, HoD, IEC Greater Noida, U. P., Prof. M. R. Ravi and Prof. S. Kohli.

Prof. Saha informed the committee about the batasha making process project. He said that the project was now completed and it was ready as a product. Final testing was decided, and will be done at Agra, Karoli and Bharatpur with the help of the Lupin Foundation. The chairman asked for the clarification regarding the actual benefits to the user and the batasha makers. Prof. Saha also mentioned that two units would be manufactured for the final testing Karoli and Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

Decision: Committee appreciated the work. 

v.Proposal for Providing Contemporary Design Opportunities and Business Models for Bharatpur Marble Works. P.I: Dr. Jyoti Kumar, IDDC, IIT Delhi.

Prof. Saha briefed the committee about the work done by Dr. Jyoti Kumar with regard to the marble designs. He mentioned that Dr. Jyoti Kumar, with the help of his students, came up with several contemporary designs which were sent to the artisans at Bharatpur. The artisans could successfully manufacture the new designs. Mr. Hemant confirmed that the new models were displayed in various places for sale.

Decision: Committee appreciated the work and deemed the project closed.

B.New projects under consideration:

i. Design Improvement and Fabrication of New Model Charkha (NMC). PI: Prof. R. Chattopadhyay, Textile Engg., IIT Delhi.

Prof. Chattopadhyay told that Ambar charkha was earlier modified in the Textile Engineering at IIT Delhi. It was funded by KVIC, and the prototypes are being used in Gonda, Kanpur, Coimbatore and Jhargram. Since KVIC stopped funding, further improvement like providing a speedometer, etc. will be taken up under RuTAG.

Decision: Committee approved the project. 

ii.Development of More Ergonomic and Efficient Street Sizing System for Chirala Handloom Cluster. PI: Dr. Samrat Mukhopadhyay, Textile Engg., IIT Delhi.

Prof. Saha explained to the committee about the origins of the project. He mentioned about the visits made to Chirala cluster by Dr. Mukhopadhyay. Prof. Chattopadhyay described the street sizing process and stressed upon on why the process needs to be made more efficient.

Decision: Committee approved the project. 

iv.Improvement in the Design of Coconut Tree Climber for Muthalamada, Palakkad, Kerala. PI: Prof. S. P. Singh, ME, IIT Delhi.

Prof. S. P. Singh summarized his visit to Palakkad, Kerala to the committee. He mentioned that along with him, Mr. Davinder Pal Singh and Dr. Susha Lekshmi visited an NGO in Kerala to demonstrate the Tree climber device which was developed under the SURA project at IIT Delhi. He mentioned that the locals were happy to use the device and suggested some improvements which were required. The required improvements will be taken up as a RuTAG project.

Decision: Committee approved the project. Concept Note will be prepared and submitted soon. 

2.Reporting:

2.1 Innovative Product Delivery:

A project account was openned with the collaboration of Foundation for Innovate and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi. The title of the project account is “Innovative Products Delivery” for Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) IIT Delhi. We have submitted the brief details of products as mentioned below: 

1. Animal Driven Prime Mover (ADPM)
2. Tulsi Mala Making Device
3. Treadle Pump
4. Bullock Driven Tractor
5. Batasha Making Process
6. Metallic Carpet Loom
7. Marble Artefacts
8. Potters Kiln for Pottery Items
9. Ground Water Level Measuring Device
10. Sheep Hair Shearing Machine

In future, there will be more such products as and when development progresses. We intend the users to make payment to FITT based on the costs and delivery quoted by the vendors of those devices after an invoice is raised by FITT. The deposited fund will then be utilized for component manufacturing so that RuTAG can make some of the delivery of the developed technology to the user.

Prof. Saha mentioned that RuTAG IIT Delhi successfully delivered its first set of products in the month of August 2018 to Mr. Amit Jain from Shantidhara Dugdh Yojna, Sagar, M.P. through FITT, IIT Delhi. 

2.2 Regional workshop and Training Programme:

1. One day RuTAG IIT Delhi Regional Workshop was held at Sagar, Madhya Pradesh on Dec. 04, 2018 in collaboration with Madhya Pradesh Vigyan Sabha, Bhopal and Shantidhara Dugdh Yojna, Binaji Barah, Madhya Pradesh.
2. One day visit at Shramdaan and Shantidhara Dugdh Yojna, Binaji Barah, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh on Dec. 05, 2018.
3. One day training program of Tulsi mala beads making device at L&T, Nabha Power Limited (NPL), Rajpura, Punjab.

Prof. Saha also reported that the following items:

2.3 The newly designed logo of Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) IIT Delhi.

2.4 Rural Innovative Technohunt “A technical challenge to identify rural problems and suggest solutions” organised by RuTAG IIT Delhi.

2.5 Collaboration with Purdue University of EPICS (Engineering Programme In Community Services) programme with RuTAG IIT Delhi.

2.6  Collaboration with CEERI (Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute) Pilani, Rajasthan for contactless switch and speed regulator for Tulsi mala beads making device.   

Publications:

1. RuTAG IIT Delhi published its 10th Newsletter (Vol. 6, No. 2) about all RuTAG centres activities in July 2018.
2. RuTAG IIT Delhi published its 11th Newsletter (Vol. 7, No. 1) about all RuTAG centres activities in January 2019.

3. RuTAG IIT Delhi along with other six RuTAG centres (Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, Roorkee, Kharagpur, Guwahati) prepared a compendium on “Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG): Demand Driven Technologies for Rural Entrepreneurships.

Related sponsored projects:

1. Low cost manufacturing process of comb and cutter for Sheep hair shearing device: Moody’s Analytics, Udyog Vihar-II, Sector 20, Gurugram, Haryana.
2. Pottery kiln: National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC), NCUI Building, Siri Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi.