Minutes of Core Group Meeting on November 4, 2011

Minutes of the Meeting of the Core Group of RuTAG - IITD held on 4^th November, 2011 in the CRDT Committee Room, IIT Delhi.

A Meeting of the Core Group of RuTAG, IIT Delhi was held on 4^th November, 2011 in the CRDT Committee Room, IIT Delhi under the chairmanship of Prof. R.R. Gaur. Following were present:

1. Prof. R. R. Gaur, Chairman, Core Group, RuTAG, IIT Delhi.
2. Major S. Chatterjee, Senior Project Consultant and Member, Core Group, Office of the PSA, Vigyan Bhavan Annexe, New Delhi.
3. Prof. S. N. Naik, Head, CRDT& Member, Core Group, RuTAG,IIT Delhi.
4. Prof. S. K. Saha, PI of the Project on Evaluation and Standardization of Animal Driven Water Pump.
5. Prof. P.M.V. Subbarao, PI of the Project on Technology Standardization and Testing cum Training Facility for Ultra-micro (Pico) Hydel Power Package for Rural Applications.
6. Prof. S. S. Murty, Member, Core Group, RuTAG,IIT Delhi and Co-PI of the Project on Technology Standardization and Testing cum Training Facility for Ultra-micro (Pico) Hydel Power Package for Rural Applications.
7. Dr. Vipul Jain, PI of the Project on Short Term Management Development Programme for Rural Enterprises.
8. Dr. G. P. Govil, Expert Advisor of the Project on Development of Biogas Engine Conversion Kit.
9. Shri Vivek Chaturvedi, 113/197, Swaroop nagar, Kanpur – Special Invitee.
10. Shri Raj Kumar Gupta, Project Staff, Evaluation and Standardization of Animal Driven Water Pump.
11. Dr. Jagpal Singh, RuTAG, Senior Project Assistant, IIT Delhi.
12. Shri Ram Gopal Agnihotri, Project Assistant, RuTAG, IIT Delhi.
13. Prof. Rajendra Prasad, Coordinator/PI and Convener, Core Group. RuTAG, IIT Delhi.  

Prof. R. R. Gaur, Chairman, Core Group, RuTAG, IIT Delhi welcomed the participants and started the proceedings of the meeting.

Agenda item No. 1.: Confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting of the Core Group:

The minutes of the meeting of the Core Group of RuTAG, IIT Delhi held on 30^th August, 2011 were already circulated to all the members/participants. No comment had been received. The minutes of the last meeting were deemed as confirmed.    

Agenda item No. 2. : Action Taken on the decisions taken in the last meeting:

Prof. Rajendra Prasad stated that the Action Taken Report on the decisions taken in the last meeting of the Core Group had been circulated to the Members of the Core Group.

Regarding the status of the Project on ‘Technology Standardization and Development of Testing-cum-Training Facility for Ultra-micro Hydel Power Package for Rural Applications’, Prof. Rajendra Prasad apprised that three internal meetings of RuTAG-IIT Delhi had been held with Prof. Subbarao in connection with detailed planning. Prof. Subbarao has been requested to make a presentation about the detailed planning of the project.

About status of the Project on ‘Management Development Programme for Rural Enterprises’, the Committee was informed that the training programme will be conducted from November 10 to 19, 2011. The preparations of the Programme are almost complete. The PI of the project has been requested to apprise the Core Group regarding the preparations.

2. Review of progress of the completed Projects:

1. Evaluation and Standardization of Animal Driven Water Pump:

Prof. Rajendra Prasad informed that Prof. S. K. Saha has been requested to make a presentation before the Core Group regarding the present status of the Project.

b. Development of Biogas Engine Conversion Kit:

The Chairman indicated that the unit had been visited by the members of Core Group. He would apprise the position in the meeting.

3.  Discussion about the new project proposals:

(i) Project on Demonstration, Field Testing, Evaluation and Standardization of Garlic Processing Machines.

Prof. Rajendra Prasad informed that a team of RuTAG-IIT Delhi comprised of Dr. Jagpal Singh, Shri Raj Kumar Gupta and Shri Mangal Singh visited Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Udaipur to discuss the details of Garlic processing machines, see the live demonstration of their working and assessment of their functioning. The outcome of the visit will be presented in the meeting.

(ii) Development of Dehusking and Milling Machines for Minor Millets.

Prof. Rajendra Prasad informed that a team of RuTAG-IITD comprised of Dr. Jagpal Singh and Shri Raj Kumar visited M/S Punjab Agricultural Implements Private Limited, Saharan Pur to collect the information regarding the Dehusking and Milling Machines for Minor Millets. The outcome will be presented in the meeting.

4. Discussion regarding the workshops to be conducted for the S&T institutions and NGOs in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for feedback on the technologies developed under RuTAG programme and also identify technogies/Problems from the field for further work:

Prof. Rajendra Prasad informed the Group that a two days RuTAG Regional Workshop of Uttar Pradesh was conducted on September 14-15, 2011 at Deen Dayal State Institute for Rural Development, Buxi-Ka-Talab, Lucknow. The outcome of the workshop will be presented in the meeting.

The Chairman indicated that Animal Driven water Pump, Micro-hydel, Biogas and Cook-stoves are our competence. We should see that these four technologies reach to the end-users through manufacturers and other agencies.  We should study how to promote these technologies through Govt. subsidy etc. If there is any problem, concerned Resource Person/R&D Institution should solve the problem.

Major Chatterjee emphasized that RuTAG job is to identify the problem and develop/improve the technology. The technology should be tested in the field and feed-back should be collected. There should be NGO partner associated with RUTAG-IIT Delhi like in RuTAG-IIT Madras where Gandhigram Trust is associated. The focus should be on number of problems addressed, technologies developed and their field applications. Whole idea of taking the problem to the field is for better performance. Beyond a point RuTAG-IIT Delhi need not go too far in implementing the technologies.

Shri Vivek Chaturvedi stressed to think holistic

“We are coming to the stage of suicide due to monoculture in farming. 25 crore liters diesel can be saved if animal driven agricultural implements are used”.

Major Chatterjee asked if outcome of the Lucknow Workshop had been summarized. Dr. Jagpal Singh assured to summarize outcome of Lucknow Workshop.

Prof. Rajendra Prasad stated that for technologies are ready to take up for working in entrepreneur mode. New problems will also be taken up.

Agenda Item No. 3.: Status of project on ‘Technology Standardization and Development of Testing-cum-Training Facility for Ultra-micro Hydel Power Package for Rural Applications.

Prof. P.M.V. Subbarao, PI of the Project made a 3-D power point presentation of the Pico Hydel Plant to be set up at IIT Delhi and clarified the queries raised in the meeting. The Time Line Plan of Action of the project was presented according to which the project would commence from November 11, 2011 and would be completed in August, 2012. He told that electrical system will be provided by Prof. Murthy.

Prof. S.S. Murthy stated that electrical system for Pico-hydel range is ready. There will be no control on mechanical side. Power is always constant. Consumed power will vary. “We will develop a controller for water heating also using a pump. Schemes will be site specific. It is a Global State of Art. Variations can be allowed. Here is constant power system”.

Keeping in view the budget of the project, Major S. Chatterjee advised to constitute a Project Committee to monitor the activities of the project. Besides two external experts, the Committee may include experts from MNRE, IIT Roorkee, IIT Madras. The Committee should be constituted and meeting of this Committee should be conducted soon. 

Agenda Item No 4.: Status of project on ‘Management Development Programme Rural Enterprises.’

Dr. Vipul Jain informed the Group that the Programme will be from 10^th to 18^th November, 2011. The letters were issued to 39 NGOs by the Office of the PSA for nominating one person each from their organization to attend the programme. He told that 33 nominations from 29 NGOs had been received. The details about the accommodation facilities (boarding & lodging), Road Map, location of IIT Delhi etc. had been sent to the participants. The Resource Persons have also been finalized. Dr. D. Raghunandan and Shri Ved Arya will also be invited as Resource Persons. The preparations for the programme are almost complete. The inauguration will be in IRD Committee Room. From second day onward the sessions will be in the Committee Room of Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Prof. Rajendra Prasad requested Major Chatterjee to explore the possibilities if PSA could be available for inauguration of the Programme.

Agenda Item No. 5.:   Review of status of the completed Projects:

a) Evaluation and Standardization of Animal Driven Water Pump.

Prof. S. K. Saha informed that the project had been officially completed. Standardization of the Gear box done. Manufacturer is now producing improved models. Dialogues are going on with manufacturer for manufacturing models of lower flow rate for common consumers. The Chairman indicated that field testing in the actual field conditions for longer duration is necessary.

Prof. S. K. Saha informed that the second set of improved Gear Box of Animal Driven Prime Mover had been received and it had been installed at IIT Delhi for demonstration and training purposes. He indicated that the draft of final report of the project had been prepared which was with him for final editing. The Pamphlet on the technology was prepared and submitted to RuTAG-IIT Delhi.

The Chairman wanted that the idea for other applications with budget required be put up in the next meeting. The model should be for universal operations to the extent possible.

2. Development of Biogas Engine Conversion Kit.

The Chairman informed that Dr. Govil had shown the live demonstration of the unit for the evaluation of the performance of the device. Major Chatterjee was present during the evaluation. The demonstration was successful and the performance was satisfactory. However, there is need to see the performance of the device in actual field conditions. Dr. Govil himself would take up the device in an entrepreneurial mode for its manufacture and supply. The cost has come down to Rs. 3 lakhs from Rs. 5 to 6 lakhs. In case of available old engine, it would be about Rs.1.5 lakh. Dr. Govil was requested to work out the cost and customize the package and prepare the final report of the project by the end of November, 2011. The Pamphlet on the technology was prepared and submitted to RuTAG-IIT Delhi.

Major Chatterjee indicated to put the performance recorded and electricity generated on the website of the PSA.

Agenda Item No. 6.:  Outcome of RuTAG Regional Workshop of Uttar Pradesh held at Lucknow.

Prof. Rajendra Prasad apprised the Group about the outcome of the Workshop. 55 persons from various NGOs and technical institutions participated in the workshop. The Power point presentations were made by Prof. Rajendra Prasad on Animal Driven Water Pump, Bullock Driven Tractors, Improved Biogas Engine Conversion Kit, Development of Testing-cum-Training Facility for Pico-hydel Power Package for Rural Applications and Short Term Management Development Programme for Rural Enterprises. Prof. S. N. Naik, Head, CRDT made presentation on Food processing particularly Processing of Mahua Flowers for value addition. Besides, Shri Sanjay Verma, Project Officer, NEDA, Lucknow made presentation on Energy; Dr. Ballabh Bahadur Singh, Fruit Preservation Training centre, Lucknow on Fruit and Vegetables processing; Dr. B. K. Dwivedi, Director Bioved Sansthan, Allahabad on Lac cultivation and value addition of Lac, Freshwater Pearl culture, Soil Testing Kit etc.; Shri Shyam Bihari Gupta, Kamdhenu Samvardhan Avam Anusandhan Sansthan Jhansi on Biogas; Shri Jayendra Singh Rana  on collection and transportation of fruits and vegetables through Rope- way and their marketing to Mother Dairy, at Delhi; Ravi Prakash CEO, NVD Solar Ltd. , Delhi on Solar light; Thakur Dharampal Singh on Organic Farming; Shri R.K. Dubey on Biodiversity restoration etc.

Some of the participants raised their problems and wanted help in following fields:

1. Set up Biogas based energy system in their area
2. Set up Animal Driven water Pump
3. Set up Micro hydel Power Plant
4. Technical help in Rope way making
5. Help in obtaining NOC from Forest Deptt., Uttarakhand for passing Rope way over the Forest Land.
6. Equipment for mechanically removing the Pulp and decortication of Khumani
7.  Development of Rotavator
8. Value addition of Lac Cultivation and value addition of Lac
9. Fruits and vegetables processing
10. Holistic package for mechanical milking, churning and Butter seperation
11. Simple technology for Amla storage and processing
12. Use of Coconut shell and coconut fiber for some useful purpose like Charcoal making after Pyrolysing
13. Utilisation of Human excreta of tourists in Chitrakoot in Biogas etc.

It was unanimously decided to make Lok Bharti Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow as Nodal Agency for Regional RuTAG Uttar Pradesh for net working and coordinating the activities of the Uttar Pradesh Region with RuTAG-IIT Delhi.

Besides, a Regional RuTAG Action Group Of Uttar Pradesh was formed under the Chairmanship of Shri Brajendra Pal Singh, Organizing Secretary, Lok Bharti Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow.

The meeting of Regional RuTAG Action Group of Uttar Pradesh was held on 9^th October, 2010 at Bioved Sansthan, Allahabad in which problems raised by various NGOs in the Lucknow Workshop were discussed and finally recommended for consideration of the RuTAG-IIT Delhi for further necessary follow up action.

In this meeting 7 sites for Animal Driven Water Pump, 3 sites for Setting up of Pico-hydel Power Plant and organizing training programmes for NGOs in Mahua Processing, Amla Processing and cultivation and value addition of Lac were recommended.

Regarding follow up sites for Animal Driven Water Pump in Chitrakoot and Pico-Hydel Power Plant at village Bhaneda (Prabudh Nagar) were visited by the team of RuTAG-IIT Delhi and observed as potential sites.

Prof. Rajendra Prasad indicated that Shri Raj Kumar Gupta had been assigned to conduct survey, contact with the concerned persons for providing technology back up for Animal Driven Water Pump, Pico-Hydel Power Plant and Bio-gas Enrichment.

Regarding holistic package for mechanical milking, churning and Butter separation it was decided that Navodaya Shiksha Prasar Samiti should take up it and RuTAG will help in the same.

Regarding help in obtaining NOC from Forest Deptt., Uttarakhand for passing Rope way over the Forest Land the Committee felt that it is a State Government subject.

Regarding conducting training for the NGOs in Fruits and Vegetables processing particularly Mahua Flowers processing, Amla processing and cultivation and value addition of Lac, the Committee decided that RuTAG-IIT Delhi can support these training programmes from the funds available. Bioved Sansthan, Allahabad is a Nodal Centre for Lac cultivation and value addition techniques in Lac. It can be supported for training in Lac.

Agenda Item No. 7. :  Planning for Workshops in the States of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The Committee decided that Regional Workshops should be conducted with 10-15 NGOs and some technical institutions. A workshop may be tentatively fixed on December2-3, 2011 at Jabalpur (MP). On 2^nd December focus may be on Millets and this may be linked with Vivek Thresher-cum-Pearler Machine for Minor Millets while on 3^rd December, 2011 focus may be on Mahua Flowers processing and Amla Processing. Dr. K.P. Singh/Shri Sandeep Kapoor may be invited in this workshop.

Another Regional Workshop may be tentatively fixed on December 19^th to 24^th, 2011 at Seva Mandir, Udaipur (Rajasthan). This Workshop may be linked with Garlic Processing Machines. Dr. N.K. Jain may be invited in this workshop.

One Regional workshop may be conducted at Jodhpur (Rajasthan) in consultation with Shri Prahlad Singh Bhati.

Agenda Item No. 8. :  Planning for new Projects.

a) Garlic Processing Machines

Dr. Jagpal Singh apprised the Group that the problem of garlic processing was raised by Shri Mohan Bacholia, Secretary, Grameen Vikas Avam Takniki Anusandhan Sansthan, Chipabarod (Baran) in the RuTAG workshop at Bharatpur. The problem was accepted by RuTAG-IIT Delhi. Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Udaipur (MPUAT), Udaipur had developed following low cost garlic processing machines-

1. Garlic  Grader
2. Garlic bulb breaker
3. Garlic clove flaker
4. Dry Garlic de-skinner
5. Fresh Garlic clove peeler 

A team from RuTAG-IIT Delhi comprised of Dr. Jagpal Singh, Shri Raj Kumar Gupta and Shri Mangal Singh visited Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Udaipur on October 14-15, 2011 to find out the details of Garlic processing machines, see the live demonstration of their working and assessment of their functioning.

The team was told that the need to invent the Garlic Processing machines was emerged in a meeting of ICAR. Department of Processing & Food Engineering, College of Technology and Engineering, MPUAT, Udaipur developed these machines in a DST project and placed for demonstration at KVK, Antah. They also set up the machines at three places with the entrepreneurs in Baran District.

The Garlic Bulb Breaking Machines were manufactured in Udaipur under the technical guidance of Dr. NK Jain, Research Engineer, MPUAT and supplied to the farmers for bulbs breaking for sowing purpose and reportedly found successful. Other machines had been developed in last 1.5 - 2 years only and their demand from the fields had not been received.

Dr. Jain promised to give the addresses/Contact Nos. of the users.

The cost of machines as told by Dr. Jain was as under:

The Chairman indicated that a workshop in Udaipur may be organized in which NGOs of Garlic producing areas and Dr. Jain may also be invited to collect more information about the problem as well as these machines and whether there is still need of these Garlic Processing machines. The Garlic Processing machines may be demonstrated in the Workshop and feed back about the performance of the machine may be collected.

1. Development of Dehusking and Milling Machines for Minor Millets.

Dr.Jagpal Singh informed that a team of RuTAG-IIT Delhi comprised of Dr. Jagpal Singh and Shri Raj Kumar Gupta visited Mr. Sanjeev Kapoor, Punjab Agricultural Implements Pvt. Ltd., Railway Road, Saharanpur (UP) on 31^st October, 2011 for collecting the information about Vivek Thresher-cum-Pearler millets machine which is being manufactured by this Firm. The team was told that the machine was invented by Dr. K.P. Singh at an ICAR Research Centre ‘Vivekanand Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan’ at Almora – 263601 (Uttarakhand). Shri Kapoor told that the machine performs the dual operation of threshing and pearling of finger millet simultaneously and threshing, de-husking and polishing operation of Barnyard millet using separate runs with suitable sieves at a very low operational cost. Four sieves of different size are used in the operations. The machine is available in two sizes:

One which run by a generator cost Rs.12,800/- and other one which is operated by Electric Motor costs Rs. 22850/- They had supplied more than 100 machines. Mostly machines have been supplied through Vivekanand Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (ICAR) and by Government of Uttarakhand. Most of their machines are in Tehri Garhwal and Almora District of Uttarakhand. They manufacture the machines on receiving orders. About collecting the feed-back regarding the performance of the machine, the team was told that they had not received any complaint about the machine as yet. He suggested contacting District Agriculture Officers of Almora and Tehri Garhwal Districts.

• The Group was told that during the visit of RuTAG-IITD team in Mahakaushal region of MP, Dr. B. K. Rai, Director, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Avam Adivasi Vikas Kendra, Jabalpur raised need of technology for Millets Processing. The tribals produce following minor millets in Mandla Region of MP:

• For de-husking of minor millets (Rice making) traditional wooden Okhli and Moosal are used by the tribals in Mandla Region of MP which involve hard labour. To reduce the drudgery, improved method/technology of de-husking was required.

• Besides, the traditional Chakki made up of mud is used for milling (Flour making) of minor millets which do not mill properly and is labour intensive. In case Stone Chakki is used, it destroys the nutrients of the flour. Development of a milling machine for minor millets was required.

• Thus there was need of technology intervention in the process of de-husking of the grains of millets and their milling without damaging the nutritive value. The technology should be tribal friendly. It should be mechanical rather than electric / diesel operated as it is not available in remote villages of the tribal districts.
• As per decision in the RuTAG-IITD Core Group meeting HARK & HESCO were contacted regarding the information about machines developed for millet processing. We came to know through these NGOs that Vivek Thresher-cum-Pearler for Finger millet and Barnyard millet had been developed by Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (ICAR), Almora and that the machine is being manufactured by M/S Punjab Agricultural Implements Pvt. Ltd., Saharanpur(UP). Therefore the team visited Saharanpur to collect the information about the machine.
• The Chairman indicated that a workshop in Jabalpur (MP) may be organized in which NGOs of minor millets producing areas and Dr. K.P. Singh may also be invited to collect more information about the problem as well as the need of the machines. The Vivek Thresher-cum-Pearler machine may be demonstrated in the field and feed back about the performance of the machine may be collected.

The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair.