Advanced Knowledge and Rural Technology Implementation (AKRUTI) scheme

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is a premier multidisciplinary research and development centre. It comes under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. Under the DAE societal initiative for using Non-Power Applications (NPAs) and Spinoff technologies in water, agriculture, food processing and waste management, a programme Advanced Knowledge and Rural Technology Implementation (AKRUTI) was launched. Under this scheme, technology usage in the rural and urban areas is encouraged. Entrepreneurship is also encouraged under the programme. This scheme mainly aims at developing rural areas through imparting knowledge, information and implementation of BARC technologies in rural areas.

Scheme Overview:

Scheme Objectives and Benefits:

• The main objective of the scheme is rural development across the nation
• Areas of water, food processing, agriculture and waste management in rural areas are covered under AKRUTI programme
• The scheme aims at empowering villages through implementing different technologies for usage
• This scheme will lead to sustainable growth of the rural sector across the country.
• It aims at encouraging entrepreneurship in rural sector
• Application process is very simple, two separate forms are available for the classification of individuals, woman entrepreneurs, MSMEs, companies, etc

Who can join in:

• NGOs which are technically sound and are functioning in rural areas for science and technology-based activities
• Financial institutions, banks, social organisations for providing finance to the NGOs
• State and Central government departments having schemes for rural development

Scheme Details, AKRUTI Tech Plus and AKRUTI-KRUTIK-FORCE:

• Advanced Knowledge and Rural Technology Implementation (AKRUTI) Scheme is mainly launched for providing information and implementation of technologies in rural areas
• It aims at overall rural development across the nation
• Under this programme, a technology centre called AKRUTI node is set up in every village
• This mechanism will be set up under the guidance of BARC and is implemented through NGOs in every particular village.
• AKRUTI node will park number of BARC developed technologies for use of villagers
• AKRUTI Tech Plus provides more technologies in the fields of water, food processing, agriculture and waste management in rural areas
• Incentives are provided for women entrepreneurs under the plus version
• AKRUTI KRUTIK FORCE has been formulated for BARC, Mumbai
• Working centres are established around AKRUTI node in the villages known as KRUTIK centres
• KRUTIK stands for Knowledge and Rural Technology Implementation Kendra.
• These centres will provide information to the villagers of different villages,
• This mechanism is set up by BARC in discussion with NGOs, National R&D labs, SHGs and Farmers Producer Organizations
• Under new provisions, now technology will be provided to small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMES)
• BARC is licensing the technologies at a fee of Rs. 1250 to 25,000/- with an additional discount of 10% to the women entrepreneurs
• Thus, the scheme helps in implementing several BARC based technologies in rural sector thereby aiming at overall growth and development of the rural sector.

Application Process:

• Under AKRUTI Tech Plus, 2 separate application forms are available for companies, individuals, woman entrepreneurs, MSMEs, etc
• Applicants are required to visit the official website @ barc.gov.in/akruti-tp/index.html and scroll to application procedure option

• Applicants are required to fill the application form for the technologies to be implemented
• Fill in the required details like name, address, technology required details, etc
• Form and enclosures are available on the official site
• Application form is to be filled and sent via email or by post
• Along with the form, enclosures mentioned are also to be sent
• Email Id to send the form and documents is akruti@barc.gov.in
• Postal address to send the same is, Head, AKRUTI Technology Section, BARC, Trombay, Mumbai – 400085
• Special offer is available on application till March 31, 2021
• Women entrepreneurs are also provided additional concessions
• All the additional information about the scheme, background, application process for technologies, licenses, etc can be found at the official site of AKRUTI @ www.barc.gov.in/akruti-tp/index.html