CSIR launches ‘Lab to Land’ survey in Mandi to boost rural livelihoods

Under the CSIR Smart Village Mission, 17 CSIR laboratories are working collectively across different scientific and technological fields to support rural development. The mission focuses on taking innovations and technologies from laboratories directly to rural communities while promoting sustainable, self-reliant and locally relevant development.

The programme in Jhundhi Panchayat is being guided by senior scientist Kishor S Kulkarni of CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee, who is the nodal coordinator of the CSIR Smart Village Mission. Engineers Anish and Gaurav are coordinating with rural households during the survey and collecting information on livelihood sources, agriculture and horticulture practices, local resources, skills, employment, income, housing conditions and development priorities.

The information collected through the survey will be analysed to prepare a needs-based action plan for the panchayat. Based on the assessment, training programmes, technical demonstrations, skill-development initiatives and livelihood activities will be taken up on a priority basis.

Potential areas of intervention include floriculture, beekeeping, agriculture and horticulture, nutrition, natural resource management and other locally suitable livelihood activities. The emphasis will be on enabling villagers to make better use of their existing skills and resources while creating sustainable employment and income opportunities.

The initiative also aims to establish stronger coordination among CSIR laboratories, the panchayat and rural communities. Based on identified needs, scientific technologies and relevant government schemes will be linked with villagers in a phased manner.