Minutes of the Core Group Meeting of RuTAG IIT Delhi held on July 4, 2018 in the Mechanical Engineering Committee Room, Block-II, Room No. 265 1st  Floor, IIT Delhi

July 19, 2018

A meeting of the Core Group of RuTAG IIT Delhi was held on July 4, 2018 in the Mechanical Engineering Committee Room, IIT Delhi, under the chairmanship of Major S. Chatterjee, as the chairman of the Core Group (Prof. R. R. Gaur) could not return from a foreign trip due to cancellation of his flight. Following were present: 

1. Major S. Chatterjee, Member, 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. Dr. Debabrata Dasgupta, ME, IIT Delhi
6. Dr. Bahni Ray, ME, IIT Delhi
7. Dr. Deepak Kumar, ITMMEC, IIT Delhi
8. Prof. R. Chattopadhyay, Textile Engg., IIT Delhi
9. Dr. Samrat Mukhopadhyay, Textile Engg., IIT Delhi
10. Prof. Satyawati Sharma, CRDT, IIT Delhi
11. Prof. Ajit Kumar, IGNOU, Delhi
12. Dr. Vinay Gupta, IEC, Noida, U. P.
13. Mr. Hemant Sharma, Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, (NGO Expert)
14. Dr. Susha Lekshmi, Project Consultant, (part-time), RuTAG IIT Delhi
15. Mr. Davinder Pal Singh, Project Associate, RuTAG IIT Delhi
16. Mr. Raj Kumar Gupta, Senior Project Assistant, RuTAG IIT Delhi
17. Mr. Suraj Bhat, Research Scholar, RuTAG IIT Delhi
18. Mr. Mangal Sharma, Project Attendant, RuTAG IIT Delhi
19. Mr. Keshava Giri, On Contract, RuTAG IIT Delhi
20. Mr. Ashish Dahiya, Project Administrative Staff
21. Mr. Harsh Sharma, Assistant on Contract
22. Ms. Kanika Prajapat, Research Associate, Textile Engg., IIT Delhi
23. Mr. Sumeet Kumar, Project Associate, ME, IIT Delhi

Prof. S. K. Saha informed members regarding the absence of the chairman of RuTAG Core Group and requested Major S. Chatterjee to chair the meeting. With the permission of the Chairman, he started the proceedings of the meeting. 

A.Status of all Projects: On-going:

Prof. Saha gave a brief summary of the on-going projects. He informed the committee members regarding the new guidelines issued by the Office of the PSA which stated that all on-going RuTAG projects should be closed by July 31, 2018. Any remaining work of on-going projects will be taken up as Phase-II. PIs must submit new/fresh proposals for the Phase –II. Also, reports of the completed projects must be submitted as soon as possible. 

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.

Prof. M. R. Ravi told that two furnaces were installed at Unch village during May 4-8, 2017. One is fitted with refractory material directly, and the other one is fitted over the clay core. Tests were conducted. About 75% fuel savings was recorded. Unfortunately, one of the groups using clay core furnace stopped using it but the other group continuously used the furnace which is without clay core. After using it for nearly five months, faults in the refractory material started to surface. Even if warning was given not to use it further they continued to use. Eventually, the furnace was permanently damaged. The RuTAG team started working in the modification of the furnace. In the meantime, artisans of the clay core furnace were encouraged to use the raw material funded by Lupin foundation. Artisans kept working till the material lasted. Lupin suggested to shift the furnace to Hassele village in U. P. for larger bangles making cluster.

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

Prof. Ravi told that Lupin has completed the construction of the kiln as per CAD provided by the RuTAG IIT Delhi. Potters used the furnace and reported 40% fuel reduction. Cracks have surfaced during usage. However, which can be sorted out by using appropriate construction materials, etc.

Decision: Committee considered the project as closed. 

iv.Adaptation of Sheep Hair Shearing Machine Developed by IIT Delhi. PI: Prof. S. K. Saha.

Prof. Saha informed that RuTAG team tested the modified combs, cutters, newly developed hand pieces, two types of motor with newly developed pull cord switch along with flexible drive at Bharmour, Himachal Pradesh. Performance of the comb and cutter was excellent and at par with the imported combs and cutters available in market. He told that performance of two motors and flexible drive was at par with the imported ones. Hand pieces underperformed due to the lack of desired hardness as per design in the parts inside of the device which was revealed after investigation. He also mentioned the unfortunate incident of attack by the local people and shepherd on Mr. Davinder Pal Singh and the resistance shown by the shearers during the testing. He told that Central Wool Development Board has not released the balance amount from past 18 months and have been taking help from RuTAG in continuing the development of the project. He also mentioned his willingness to take this project to next level in identifying the vendors with performance capabilities and who could manufacture and cater complete product.

Decision: Committee appreciated the work done by the team and agreed with the suggestion of Prof. Saha in taking the said project to the next level. 

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

Dr. Jyoti Kumar could not attend the meeting. Prof. Saha informed about designs made by RuTAG team. Artisans made artifacts based on those design. However, they were yet to be tested for the acceptability in the market. Mr. Hemant Sharma was requested to look into the matter.

Decision: Committee suggested to close the project and get feedback from Mr. Hemant Sharma. 

Discontinued Project:

i. Design of an LPG-fired Pottery Kiln for the Pottery Cluster at Uttam Nagar, Delhi. P.I: Prof. M. R. Ravi and Prof. S. Kohli, ME, IIT Delhi.

Prof. Ravi informed the members that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) sanctioned an order to stop the firing of all the biomass based kilns in the Uttam Nagar pottery cluster. CAD designs were made and fabricators were shortlisted to provide the cluster with the design by RuTAG. No interest was shown by the end-users.

Decision: Committee agreed to close the project without any report. It will however be adopted for a different location. 

B.New Projects under consideration:

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

Prof. Saha told that ambar charkha was earlier modified in the Textile Engineering at IIT Delhi under Prof. Chattopadhyay. It was funded by KVIC and the prototypes are getting used in Gonda (Gujarat), Kanpur (U. P.), Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) and Jhargram (West Bengal). Since KVIC stopped funding, further improvement like providing a speedometer, etc. will be taken up under RuTAG.

Decision: Committee approved the project. The chairman suggested the PI to approach KVIC for possible acceptance of the modifications in the charkhas under RuTAG funding. 

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

Ms. Kanika told that Chirala Handlooms are famous for saris, dhoti etc. Artisans are facing drudgery in various yarn preparing activities which majorly involve coating, brushing, drying etc. Therefore to reduce the drudgery, CAD of the mechanized street sizing system has been developed and it will be fabricated by the Trade Union Chirala which is the field agency of this project.

Decision: Committee approved the project. 

iii.Improving the Rudimentary & Uncomfortable Pit Looms of Chirala by More Ergonomic and Efficient TARA Loom. P.I: Dr. Samrat Mukhopadhyay, Textile Engg., IIT Delhi.

Ms. Kanika told that a study was conducted to incorporate or replace the heavy pit loom with the light weight Tara loom or any other loom. However, tara loom is expensive.

Major Chatterjee suggested to explore Chittaranjan loom which is cheaper and approved by KVIC.

Decision: Committee advised a thorough study before it can be approved. 

iv.Design of an LPG-fired Pottery Kiln for the Pottery Cluster at Khurrampur, Haryana. P.I: Prof. M. R. Ravi, ME, IIT Delhi.

Prof. Ravi told that the artisans in Khuramupur village of Gurugram district (Haryana) are making diyas using bonfire which is highly polluting, and requires burning of wood. Therefore, the need for intervention was stated during his visit to the said village. The earlier design for Uttam Nagar furnace will be adopted.

Decision: Committee approved the project. 

v.Dissemination of Improved Metallic Carpet Loom Developed by IIT Delhi for Carpet Weavers at Rajasthan. P.I: Prof. S. K. Saha, ME, IIT Delhi.

Prof. Saha told that during RuTAG regional workshop at Jaipur on Feb. 23, 2018, Rajasthan Carpet and Woolen Products Development Society (RCWPDS), Jaipur approached to test the improved loom developed by IIT Delhi during 2010-11.

Decision: Committee approved the project. 

vi.Technology for Prevention of Stone Dust Inhalation during Stone Carving/Mining units in Rajasthan State. P.I: Dr. Debabrata Das Gupta and Dr. Bahni, ME, IIT Delhi.

The problem was raised during RuTAG workshop at Jaipur. A field visit was planned to visit Bharatpur and Karauli. Team will comprise a member from a startup companies which makes nasal-filters along with the P Is and Mr. Suraj to access the quantum and need of the problem.

Decision: Committee asked for the concept note with budget etc.

vii.Multi-Layer Facility for Vermi Composting at Katra, Jammu. P.I: Prof. Satyawati Sharma, CRDT, IIT Delhi.

Prof. Saha told that the problem was highlighted by the Office of the PSA through Dr. Bapat. Prof. Satyawati Sharma had meeting with the same expert from ICAR.

Decision: Committee suggested to contact Dr. Bapat for further requirement from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Katra, J&K. 

viii.Phase-II of the Improvement of Furnace for Bangles making and Improving the Working Conditions of Artisans. P.I: Prof. S. Kohli, Co-P.Is: Prof. M. R. Ravi and Prof. S. K. Saha.

Prof. Ravi told that the improved furnaces will be installed and fabricated in the field and tested under the phase-II of the said project.

Decision: Committee approved the phase-II of the bangles making furnace. 

2.Reporting:

Related Sponsored Projects:

The following projects with external funding are going on as an extension activities of the RuTAG projects:

1. Sheep Hair Shearing Device: Central Wool Development Board (CWDB), Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
2. Low Cost Manufacturing Process of Comb and Cutter for Sheep Hair Shearing Device: Moody’s Analytics, Udyog Vihar-II, Sector 20, Gurugram, Haryana.
3. Treadle Pump: Ajay Industrial Corporation Limited, Sahibabad Industrial Area, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
4. Pottery Kiln: National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC), NCUI Building, Siri Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi.

The committee appreciated the RuTAG team for obtaining external funding.

Innovative Product Delivery:

A project account was open with the collaboration of Foundation for Innovate and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi. The titled 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. Ground Water Level measuring Device

In future, there will be more such products as and when development Progresses. We intended the users 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. 

RuTAG International Conference:

i. An International Conference on ‘Rural Technology Development and Delivery (RTDD): RuTAG and its Synergy with other Initiatives’ was held during March 9-11, 2018, at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Regional Workshop:

i. RuTAG IIT Delhi Regional Workshop was held at CSIR-CEERI Incubation-cum Innovation Hub, Jaipur, Rajasthan on Feb. 23, 2018. 

Visits:

1. Mr. Suraj Bhat and Mr. Mangal Sharma visited Balaghat, M. P., for installation and testing of Treadle Pump and BDT during Nov. 21-25, 2017.
2. Mr. Srijan and Mr. Prabhat visited CSWRI, Bikaner, Rajasthan for testing of Sheep shearing device during Nov. 23-25, 2017.
3. Mr. Davinder Pal Singh and Mr. Mangal Sharma visited Bharatpur for repairing of furnace on Dec. 13, 2018.
4. Mr. Davinder Pal Singh and Mr. Suraj Bhat visited Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, Karnataka for a demonstration of Treadle pump and Tulsi mala making device during Jan. 22-26, 2018.
5. Mr. Davinder Pal Singh visited Bharatpur for repairing of furnace on Feb.09, 2018.
6. Mr. Davinder Pal Singh and Mr. Mangal Sharma visited Sundervan, West Bangal, for installation and testing of Treadle pump during March 27 to April. 02, 2018.
7. Mr. Davinder Pal Singh, Mr. Mangal Sharma and Mr. Ashish visited Barmour, Himachal Pradesh for testing of Sheep shearing device during May 18-24, 2018.

Exhibitions:

1. RuTAG IIT Delhi exhibited technologies in the event ‘Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Convention and Exhibition’ organized by PHD Chamber for Commerce and Industry volume on Nov. 10, 2017.