Vol 2, Issue 1 January 2010 MM GG II RR II Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialisation A National Institute under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Govt. of India r e t t e l s w e N er Excellency, the President of India Smt Contents HPratibhatai Devisingh Patil, during her visit to ‹ MGIRI - it's vision, mission and activity plans .... 2 Amravati on January 7, 2010 took time off to understand the functioning of Solar Charkha ‹ Editorial .... 3 brought out by MGIRI and its potential of bringing ‹ Proposed Khadi Research and Development Institute smile on the faces of the poor. Mr Deep Vijay Varma in Gujarat .... 3 PSO of MGIRI, who is responsible for the crucial aspects of redesign, is seen explaining the system ‹ The Nation responds to MGIRI's Technologies to the President. (Glimpses of the exhibitions in Nov-Dec 2009) .... 4 ‹ General Council of MGIRI meets .... 5 ‹ Recent Events / Forthcoming Events .... 6 ‹ Staff Orientation - IV …. 7 MGIRI WISHES A HAPPY NEW YEAR ‹ MGIRI in News …. 8 Maganwadi, Wardha-442001, Maharashtra Phone: 07152-253512 Fax: 240328 www.mgiri.org email: [email protected] MGIRI – IT'S VISION, MISSION AND ACTIVITY PLANS GENESIS Though MGIRI, started functioning as an autonomous institute under the Ministry of MSME with effect from Oct. 2008, it had its genesis in an institute started by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle. Bapuji, after withdrawing his active role in Congress (1931), decided to dedicate himself to rural reconstruction for which he considered the revival of village industries fundamental. He established the All India Village Industries Association (AIVIA) in 1934 with Dr J C Kumarappa as its Organiser and Secretary. The 16 acre Maganwadi campus, where presently MGIRI is functioning, became the venue for hundreds of artisans from across the country to share, synthesize and evolve improved techniques related to rural products - be it oil, clothes, paper or cosmetic items. Gandhiji involved international scientists Sir C V Raman, Dr J C Bose along with top-notch industrialists like Mr G D Birla in the advisory Committee of AIVIA thus sending a message that Rural Industrialisation needs the highest level of Science Technology and Industrial Management. After 22 years of relentless efforts by stalwarts like Dr J C Kumarappa, Dr Devendrakumar, Dr G Ramachandran and others a national effort to replicate the ideas of AIVIA resulted in the creation of the KVIB in 1953 and the KVIC in 1956. The KVIC took upon itself the task of continuing the efforts of AIVIA in the form of an R&D structure called Jamanalal Bajaj Central Research Institute (JBCRI) in the same venue. The JBCRI was created in 1956 through an act of Parliament and strived to provide the needed backup to the rural industries of India. This structure of visualising the rural industries in terms of about twenty and odd activities like khadi, khandsari, handmade paper, soap, leather, carpentry etc. could not cover the range of products in the inventory of modern consumerist world. The Ramakrishnaiah Committee (1987) recommended that any product could be considered as rural as long as the concerned industry has a per capita investment of Rs 50,000 (now raised to Rs 1,00,000 and Rs 1,50,000 for the tribal areas) and is located in a habitat with population less than 20,000 (now raised to 50,000). The paradigm shift, as explained above, needed an institute capable of dealing with a large number of technologies and industrial contexts involving myriads of materials, manufacturing processes and consumer oriented designs. A 'hub and spokes' model was considered essential and thus MGIRI was established (by revamping the JBCRI) as a hub linking the rural industries with a network of specialized S&T and management institutions. The entire project of establishment and trial-run took nearly 8 years (2001 to 2008) and was a collaborative effort of the KVIC with IIT Delhi. MISSION AND VISION OF MGIRI MGIRI has the mission of building the capacity of the rural industries of India so that they become globally competitive. The vision is to support, upgrade and accelerate the process of rural industrialization in the country so that we may move towards the Gandhian vision of sustainable and self reliant village economy and the products of rural industry gains wide acceptability in the local and global markets. The objectives of the institute provide for activities that are compatible with the above mission and vision. MGIRI is registered as a society under the Society Registration Act, 1860. ROADMAP FOR MGIRI ?Set up a strong two-way linkage between itself and the rural industrialists and technical experts in professional Institutes so as to facilitate quick availability of modern science, technology and management inputs for rural industrialization. ?Create a science and technology hub for KVI sector by developing strong linkages and interface with other Institutions in the field of rural industrialization. ?Build a database of technologies available in KVI sector. ?Facilitate setting up of rural industrial estates and clusters with necessary infrastructural facilities like power, specialized tool rooms, testing and marketing facilities. ?Undertake and sponsor projects capable of giving substantial fillip to larger and increased market penetration to selected products of village industry. ?Promote innovation through pilot studies and field trials through research, extension, education and training. ?Conduct specialized human resource development programmes in generic areas such as Total Quality Management, creativity and innovation besides, rural entrepreneurship development. ?Provide Training to Trainers of the Centres of KVIC and Khadi & Village Industries Boards of state governments. Continued on page 5 ... Registration details: Title: MGIRI Newsletter Editor: Dr T Karunakaran Printer: MGIRI, Wardha Periodicity: Monthly Publisher: Dr T Karunakaran Nr.: MAHBIL 05736 / 13-1-2009-TC Language: English / Hindi Place of publication: Wardha Post Regn. Nr.: WDA / 60 / 2010-12 www.mgiri.org 2 EDITORIAL Similarly since MGIRI is located in Vidarbha, where agriculture has become a puzzle and a challenge, MGIRI evolved an approach nicknamed VIDARBA 'Vidarbha's Industrialization Aimed at Re-stabilization of Burdened Agriculture'. The approach is to treat agriculture and industries as a continuum (say 'Agrindus') implying that the farmer has to be technically enabled to add at least 'one level' of value to his produce. For example the cotton- cultivator, instead of parting with cotton, will sell the 'sliver' instead and will reap much more profit. This 'cotton to garment' movement led to a 'cluster' concept with significant implications to rural economy, rural employment (including the SHGs) and also to issues like global warming. The innovation agenda and industrialization agenda need the support of a large number of institutions. Therefore GIRI, established for the purpose of making the rural the decision in the General Council to shift the Mindustries globally competitive, has completed one responsibility of coordination of 'MGIRI-interfaces' from year of its autonomous functioning - considering the fact the KVIC to MGIRI is welcome and timely. that IIT Delhi, which handled the project of revamping JBCRI into MGIRI and its trial run, withdrew, effectively, in A large number of institutions are ready to join MGIRI in its December 2008. efforts. A pioneering example, namely NCIC (Nagpur Centre for Industrial Consultancy) has already been Although the roadmap for MGIRI's activities was well laid reported in our November 2009 issue. Interestingly, a few out with 8 objectives, the complexity of occupying an eight technological initiatives like Solar Charkha, Low cost lane road, all at once, was found to be a formidable task. packing machine, Solar potter's wheel, etc from the MGIRI The guidance of the Executive Council, and the counsel of have been highly applauded by the artisans thus proving the Chairman Mr Dinesh Rai, IAS, Secretary of MSME came that our demand based approach will be successful. in handy. It was decided that MGIRI will walk on the two legs: 'innovation' and 'model building for rural To sum up MGIRI is happy that the nation has presented a industrialization'. Further since it was safer to have one's well defined, though challenging, agenda for it to feet safely on the ground, without any 'conceptual slippery', negotiate. Its scientists, who happily underwent an participatory action-based and demand-driven approach 'annealing process' in the form of an innovative orientation was followed. programme, are confident of delivering the goods. The innovation efforts (wrapped up into a scheme: IRIS- With continued and passionate Innovations for Rural Industrial Systems) were to start in support of the officials of the the form of S&T intervention into actual problems faced by Ministry of MSME as well as with the the SFURTI schemes under Khadi and Village Industries, friendly guidance and patronage of Coir Board and the Development Commission of the the KVIC the journey is expected to Ministry of MSME. The 20 problems needing immediate be successful. S&T intervention and the additional 'generic-problems' identified in the thrust areas of food, textile and building- We say 'thank you' to all our friends elements are to form the first set of problems for which and mentors and wish them all a solutions have to be provided by MGIRI and its network very happy new year ! partners. – Editor Proposed Khadi Research and Development Institute in Gujarat he MGIRI technologies, displayed in Surat during Nov-Dec 2009, resulted in the feedback that there is a crying need for Timproved technologies for rural industries. This feeling was ably summed up by the senior most officials of Gujarat to the KVIC. Since similar opinions were expressed by certain Members of Parliament also Hon'ble Minister of MSME Shri Dinsha Patel desired a discussion on the matter. This resulted in a meeting in Ahmedabad on 11-12-2009 under the Chairmanship of Mr P K Parmar, IAS, Chairman of Gujarat state KVIB.