UBA Orientation at IIT Roorkee Charts Roadmap for Atmanirbhar Villages
Experts emphasize sustainable farming, innovation, and traditional wisdom to boost rural livelihoods
Roorkee, September 20, 2025: The Regional Coordinating Institute of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) at IIT Roorkee organized an Orientation Workshop for UBA Coordinators of Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh at the APJ Abdul Kalam Block, IIT Roorkee. The event brought together experts, policymakers, community leaders, and academicians to deliberate on sustainable rural development through innovation, entrepreneurship, and traditional knowledge systems.
The workshop began with the lighting of the lamp and the release of the book “देशज ज्ञान में बादल.” Welcoming participants, Prof. Ashish Pandey, Coordinator, RCI-UBA, IIT Roorkee, highlighted UBA’s critical role in bridging academia with rural communities.
In his address, Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, underscored that the true essence of UBA lies in empowering villages with technology, knowledge, and sustainable practices. He reaffirmed IIT Roorkee’s commitment to driving rural transformation through innovation-based initiatives aimed at creating Atmanirbhar Villages.
Padmashri Shri Sethpal Singh stressed that real development begins in villages, adding that diversification in farming and revival of traditional practices are crucial for ensuring sustainable livelihoods for farmers.
The technical sessions covered key themes including:
- Diversification in agriculture
- Honey authentication and food safety
- Weather forecasting integrating traditional knowledge
- Organic farming and eco-village models
- Entrepreneurship opportunities for self-reliant villages
- Agro-advisory services for farmers
Prof. N.K. Navani elaborated on the establishment of the National Centre for Honey Authentication and Food Safety, supported by the National Bee Board under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. He also highlighted initiatives under the ‘Madhu Kranti’ program, offering subsidies, training, and modern equipment for honey producers.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Ashish Pandey emphasized UBA’s role in harmonizing local wisdom with modern science, enabling UBA Principal Investigators to act as catalysts of change. The day concluded with a field visit to the Agromet Observatory at IIT Roorkee, giving participants practical exposure to agricultural innovations.
The workshop reaffirmed IIT Roorkee’s commitment to the vision of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan—building self-reliant, sustainable, and empowered villages. The discussions aligned closely with national priorities such as Swachh Bharat Mission, Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2028, and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes community engagement and experiential learning.
By linking academic knowledge with grassroots realities, the initiative aims to strengthen sustainability, inclusivity, and rural empowerment across India.
