Report on the

Regional Workshop on Rural Technology

by

Rural Technology Action Group, IIT Delhi

at

Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI),

Arid Region Campus, Beechwal, Bikaner, Rajasthan

on

August 25, 2017

By

Prof. Subir Kumar Saha (P.I.)

Department of Mechanical Engineering

IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas

New Delhi – 110 016

Tel: 011 2659 1135; Fax: 011 2658 2053

Email: saha@mech.iitd.ac.in

October 16, 2017

Preamble

RuTAG IIT Delhi conducted a regional workshop on August 25, 2017 at Central Sheep and

Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Arid Region Campus, Beechwal, Bikaner, Rajasthan.

The program was attended by about 63 participants which included Dr. Ashutosh Kumar

Patel, Head, ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Arid Region

Campus (ARC), Bikaner, Rajasthan, Dr. N. V. Patil, Director, ICAR-National Research

Centre on Camel (NRCC), Bikaner Rajasthan. Mr Anurag Purohit, Technical Officer,

Central wool development board (CWDB). Mr. Ramesh Bundela, Senior Technical

Assistant (STA), Wool Testing Centre, CWDB, Bikaner, Rajasthan, Dr. H. K. Narula,

Principal Scientist, CSWRI, ARC Bikaner, Rajasthan, Prof. R. R. Gaur, Hon. Visiting

Professor, NRCVEE, IIT Delhi and Chairman, Core Group RuTAG IIT Delhi, Prof. R.

Chattopadhyay, Professor, Dept. of Textile Engineering, IIT Delhi, Dr. Deepak Kumar,

Assistant Professor, Industrial Tribology Machine Dynamic and Maintenance Engineering

Centre (ITMMEC), Major S. Chatterjee, Consultant, RuTAG IIT Delhi, Prof. S. K. Saha,

Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Delhi and Coordinator, RuTAG IIT

Delhi, Prof. Suril V. Shah, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT

Jodhpur, Prof. Anand, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT

Jodhpur, Mr. Tara Chand, Associate Vice President, CSR, Moody’s Analytics. Fifteen

Scientists and Technical Staff of CSWRI, ARC, Bikaner, Rajasthan, and four Scientists and

Technical Staff of NRCC, Bikaner, Rajasthan, and about four NGO representatives were

also present.

1. Inauguration Session (Day 1, August 25, 2017)

The program started with welcome address by Mr. Raj Kumar Gupta (Senior Project

Assistant, RuTAG IIT Delhi) who was the workshop coordinator.

1.1. Welcome address by Prof. S. K. Saha (Fig. 1)

He welcomed the participants and briefly explained the agenda of the workshop. He

introduced the mechanism and role of RuTAG IIT Delhi in technology up-gradation for

rural India. He offered his sincere thanks to Dr. Patel for agreeing to host the workshop

in CSWRI and also appreciated the efforts of Dr. H. K. Narula in efficiently organising

and coordinating the workshop.

Fig. 1 Welcome by Prof. S. K. Saha

1.2 Address by Dr. A. K. Patel (Fig. 2)

He welcomed all delegates, shepherds and NGOs with warmth and gratitude. He

applauded RuTAG’s contribution to the rural society. He insisted upon having a

technological solution to control the declining population of sheep and animals of arid

region.

Fig. 2 Address by Dr. A. K. Patel

1.3 Address by Dr. N. V. Patil (Fig. 3)

Dr. Patil welcomed the participants and the RuTAG IIT Delhi team. He appreciated

CWDB and CSWRI, ARC Bikaner, Rajasthan for the effort in organizing the one-day

workshop in Bikaner. He appreciated the role of RuTAG in livelihood development and

rural betterment. He emphasized the intervention through RuTAG for regaining the

deteriorating population of sheep and shepherds. He also mentioned the decreasing

number of shearers in the industry. He suggested RuTAG to develop a hair shearing

machine to remove camel hair also.

Fig. 3 Address by Dr. N. V. Patil

1.4 Address by Mr. Anurag Purohit (Fig. 4)

Mr. Purohit welcomed everyone. He emphasized that experts from premier institutes

should come forward in finding solutions for various problems faced by the shepherds

and related industry. He mentioned that the Ministry of Textile has initiated various

schemes to benefit wool industry and also take the advantages of a mechanized way of

sheep shearing.

Fig. 4 Address by Mr. Anurag Purohit

1.5 Address by Prof. R. R. Gaur (Fig. 5)

Prof. Gaur mentioned that impact of fast development and sustainable development has

to be ascertained by understanding and choosing correct technological inputs necessary

for growth. He told that since independence industrial growth took place but growth was

not stable. Resources were depleting resulting in social and economic disparity of

society. A need for sustainable development was therefore felt. He mentioned the role of

Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization in Wardha (Maharashtra) which

was set up by IIT Delhi. The institute is providing proper technical solutions that are

environment and user friendly. He discussed the role of RuTAG and challenges in rural

technology development and dissemination. He asserted that higher technical institutes

have a responsibility to provide technical solutions to majority of rural people and

coordination between institutions for the challenges of problem identification and

technology dissemination.

Fig. 5 Address by Prof. R. R. Gaur

1.6 Address by Mr. V. K. Mohatta (Manufacturers & Exporters of woollen felts,

Carpets) (Fig. 6)

Mr. V. K. Mohatta told that 80% wool in India is imported every year. He appreciated

the sheep shearing machine developed by IIT Delhi and its effort for mass production at

reduced cost. He underscored training of shepherds with the said device and proposed

that agencies like NABARD should be contacted for the dissemination of the product.

Fig. 6 Address by Mr. V. K. Mohatta

Further, Dr. Deepak Kumar (Fig. 7) delivered a vote of thanks to the audience of the

inaugural session.

2 Technical Session-1

2.1 Prospects of carpet wool production in India by Dr. A. K. Patel

Dr. Patel stated that out of 6 crore sheep population, 90 lakh are found in Rajasthan.

There is 18 % decrease in sheep population in Rajasthan but in Karnataka and Andhra

Pradesh, sheep population has remained unchanged. Rajasthan has an erratic rainfall

pattern and extreme high and low temperatures making it an arid zone which impacts the

wool quality. Magra wool of Rajasthan is best for carpet manufacturing. Also various

breeds of sheep and various types of wool fibre are available in Rajasthan. He regretted

the fact that though India is third largest in the world in terms of sheep population but

still imports 80% of its wool requirement from other countries. Bikaner is the main hub

of raw wool in India.

2.2 Rural Technologies developed under All RuTAG centres by Major S. Chatterjee

Major S. Chatterjee, Senior Project Consultant of RuTAG IIT Delhi, explained the

objectives and mandate of the RuTAG Programme. He highlighted few technologies

developed at the RuTAG Centres located now in 7 IITs, e.g., Improved Sanitary Napkins,

Coir rope making machine, Jute rope making machine, Pirn winding machine, Foot

operated Amber charkha, Muri making machine, Sabai grass rope making machine,

Bageshwari charkha, Multi nutrient compressed feed block making machine for yak,

Fish cage culture in reservoirs, and Improved metallurgy of Horse shoe, etc.

2.3 Rural Technologies developed under RuTAG IIT Delhi by Prof. S. K. Saha

Prof. S. K. Saha outlined several completed and on-going projects of RuTAG IIT Delhi.

He talked about Animal Driven Gear Box, Bullock Driven Tractor (old and new),

Treadle Pump, Tulsi Mala making Device, improvisations going on in Bangles making

Furnace, including associated tools and seating arrangement, Sheep Hair Shearing

Device, Ground water measuring device, and Carpet Industry related machines

developed at IIT Delhi etc.

2.4 Khadi Textile Activities at IIT Delhi by Prof. R. Chattophadhyay

Prof. Chattopadhyay (Fig. 7), began with the brief description of the Khadi activities at

IIT Delhi. He mentioned the development of standard and norms for Khadi yarn and

fabric manufacturing and publishing of related books. He also mentioned the

development of wrinkle free Khadi products and knitted Khadi. He told that Marino wool

is considered best wool for making various products and is available mostly in Australia,

but Bharat wool is much better because of its better thermal and less pilling properties.

He told that a recent intervention by him in NMC charkha with 10 spindle has recorded

10% to 15% increase in productivity.

Fig. 7 (From right) Prof. R. Chattopadhyay, Prof. Deepak Kumar and others

2.5 Presentation by Mr. Vikas Mohatta

Mr. Vikas applauded the improvement and interventions done by RuTAG IIT Delhi for

rural betterment. He also appreciated the newly developed sheep shearing machine and

acknowledged that machine will give boost in the livelihood of the shepherds. He

appreciated a few technologies mentioned by Major S. Chatterjee such as sanitary

napkins, etc.

3 Lunch Session

During lunch session, participants visited the stall to watch the demonstration of the

Sheep Hair Shearing Machine and posters (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8 Demonstrating technologies

4 Technical Session-2

4.1 Urmul Trust, Bikaner: Presentation by Mr. Arvind Ojha

Mr Ojha thanked RuTAG IIT Delhi for the interventions and technological solutions

provided since RuTAG’S regional workshop at Jaipur. He asked the solution for mobile

solar charger and head lamp for farmers working in the fields during night. He also

mentioned a few problems for which interventions are required. They are:

1. Low cost mobile solar battery charger and head lamp.

2. Low cost covers for irrigation channel to prevent clogging due to sand.

3. Small scale furnace to utilize locally available ceramic clay for making small

artefacts.

4. Small scale wind mill for electricity generation.

5. Safe and reliable method for lifting water from underground storage tanks around

Rajasthan as it claims many lives every year.

6. Fluoride removal from water.

RuTAG IIT Delhi Remarks

A survey to study the availability of the low cost head lamp and mobile solar charger

will be made. For fluoride removal Prof. Anand Krishnan of IIT Jodhpur will be

contacted as his team has developed pottery based filter which removes fluoride. For

water extraction from underground tank, treadle pump developed by RuTAG can be

tried. Remaining problems will be investigated and status of the problems will be

intimated to the NGO later.

4.2 Dr. O. P. Kohli, CTO (CSWRI, Bikaner)

A problem raised by Dr. Kohli is as follows:

1. Automatic self-filling syringe with bottle feed attachment which accurately

delivers selected dose from 0.25 ml to 10 ml for vaccination of sheep or any

animal.

RuTAG IIT Delhi Remarks

A survey will be made. Else, the possibility of developing the product will be explored.

4.3 Rangsutra Craft Duniya (Mr. D. C. Solanki and Mr. Om Prakash)

Mr. Solanki and Prakash raised the following problems:

1. Low cost high productive loom is required as Tara loom is expensive for poor

weavers.

2. Requires intervention in solar powered loom which is installed at Rangsutra

manufacturing unit at Napasar, Rajasthan.

RuTAG IIT Delhi Remarks

RuTAG visited the manufacturing unit at Napasar next day and investigated the

situation. Since MGIRI Wardha has developed a solar operated loom, the information

can be passed on. For the reduction of cost, the manufacturer of Tara loom may be

contacted to share the comments and inform that RuTAG IIT Delhi can help them to

study their design.

4.4 Simple Water Filter using Clay Pottery (Rupayam Sansthan)

Dr. Anand Krishnan Plappally, IIT Jodhpur, presented the water filter developed using

clay pottery which can filter out arsenic, fluoride etc. Rupayam Sansthan is making the

units and distributing.

RuTAG IIT Delhi Remarks

The Chair appreciated the work and suggested it to be shared with URMUL trust for the

requirement of fluoride removal in the region.

5 Vote of thanks delivered by Dr. H. K. Narula, CSWRI, Bikaner, Rajasthan.

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Interactive Session on August 26, 2017 at ICAR-National Research

Centre on Camel, Jorbeer, Bikaner, Rajasthan

Preamble

ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel at Jorbeer, Bikaner Rajasthan held an interactive

session with RuTAG IIT Delhi team for exploring the possibilities for technical

interventions/ support and future collaborations on August 26, 2017. The program was

attended by about 40 participants which included Dr. N. V. Patil, Director, ICAR-National

Research Centre on Camel (NRCC), Bikaner, Rajasthan, Dr. Ashutosh Kumar Patel, Head,

ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Arid Region Campus (ARC),

Bikaner, Rajasthan, Mr. Anurag Purohit, Technical Officer, Central Wool Development

Board (CWDB). Prof. S. K. Saha, Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Delhi

and Coordinator, RuTAG IIT Delhi. Prof. R. R. Gaur, Hon. Visiting Professor, NRCVEE,

IIT Delhi and Chairman, Core Group RuTAG IIT Delhi., Prof. R. Chattopadhyay,

Professor, Dept. of Textile Engineering, IIT Delhi. Prof. Deepak Kumar, Assistant

Professor, Industrial Tribology Machine Dynamic and Maintenance Engineering Centre

(ITMMEC). Major S. Chatterjee, Consultant, RuTAG IIT Delhi. Mr. Ramesh Bundela,

STA, Wool Testing Centre, CWDB, Bikaner, Rajasthan, Dr. H. K. Narula, Principal

Scientist, CSWRI, ARC, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Mr. Davinder Pal Singh, Project Associate,

RuTAG IIT Delhi, Mr. Raj Kumar Gupta, Sr. Project Assistant, RuTAG IIT Delhi, Mr.

Mangal Sharma, RuTAG IIT Delhi, Mr. Prabhat Kumar, Project Associate, Mech. Engg.

Deptt., IIT Delhi, Mr. Srijan Prabhakar, Project Assistant, Mech. Engg. Deptt., IIT Delhi.

Scientist and Technical Staff, CSWRI, ARC, Bikaner, Rajasthan and NRCC, Bikaner,

Rajasthan.

1. Visits

Visits started with various ongoing activities (Fig. 1) for enhancing the utilization of

camel in NRCC campus. For example, camel driven gear box, camel carts with various

modifications for power generations, etc., camel feed pellets, block and pulverising

machines etc.

(a) (b)

Fig. 1 (a) Animal Driven Prime Mover at National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC)

(b) Camel Cart at National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC)

2. Interactive Session

2.1. Dr. N. V. Patil welcomed the participants and the RuTAG IIT Delhi team. He

appreciated the role of RuTAG in boosting livelihood for poor and rural betterment. He

added that due to better infrastructure development in and around Rajasthan,

dependency upon camel for transportation and other activities has been reduced, which

has further impacted the population of camel substantially. Therefore, efforts are in full

swing at his institute to save the deteriorating state of camel population. His institution

has taken many initiatives such as camel dairy utility, draft power of camel, mechanised

way of camel milking, packaging of camel milk, etc. He suggested RuTAG to develop

a hair shearing machine to remove camel hair and welcomed RuTAG team for future

collaborations.

Fig. 2 Welcome address by Dr. N. V. Patil

2.2. Prof. R. R. Gaur emphasised the need of sustainable development on all futuristic

projects undertaken by all research institutes. He discussed the role of RuTAG and

challenges in rural technology development and dissemination. He asserted that higher

technical institutes have a responsibility to provide technical solutions for majority of

rural people and coordination between institutions for giving thrust to technology

dissemination and challenges for problem identification needs to be addressed. He

welcomed the proposal by NRCC Bikaner for future collaborations with RuTAG team.

2.3. Mr. Anurag Purohit welcomed everyone. He told that to give boost to livestock breeding

especially camel, institute should consider the prospects of camel meat. Also, camel hairs

should be studied to standardize the properties of camel wool in relation to application

etc. Prof. Chattophadhyay can start this initiative.

2.4. Dr. A. K. Patel welcomed everyone. He applauded RuTAG’s contribution to the rural

society. He insisted upon having a low cost technological solution for animal shelters.

He explained various shelter models developed using grass, coal, vegetation, etc., for hot

arid region.

2.5. Prof. S. K. Saha outlined several completed and on-going projects of RuTAG IIT Delhi.

He talked about Animal Driven Gear Box, Bullock Driven Tractor (old and new) and it

applications such as chaff cutter, screw pump, sprinklers, thresher, atta chakki and

emphasised of the utilization of camel for the same. He also explained sheep hair

shearing device developed by IIT Delhi and Carpet Industry related machines developed

at IIT Delhi etc.

3. Industries Visits

3.1 A team of IIT Delhi which included Prof. S. K. Saha, Head, Department of Mechanical

Engineering, IIT Delhi, Prof. R. Chattopadhyay, Professor, Department of Textile

Engineering, IIT Delhi, Dr. Deepak Kumar, Assistant Professor, Industrial Tribology

Machine Dynamic and Maintenance Engineering Centre (ITMMEC), Major S.

Chatterjee, Consultant, RuTAG IIT Delhi, Mr. Davinder Pal Singh, Project Associate,

RuTAG IIT Delhi, Mr. Raj Kumar Gupta, Sr. Project Assistant, RuTAG IIT Delhi, Mr.

Mangal Sharma, RuTAG IIT Delhi, Mr. Prabhat Kumar, Project Associate, Mech. Engg.

Deptt., IIT Delhi and Mr. Srijan Prabhakar, Project Assistant, Mech. Engg. Deptt., IIT

Delhi visited Napasar Handloom Cluster and Khadi Indutrial Area, Rani Bazar, Bikaner

on August 26, 2017.

The team examined the looms and took videos for the study purpose. Following

observations were made:

1. Cost of Tara loom is too high (Fig. 3)

2. Solar loom need modifications (Fig. 4)

Fig. 3 Tara Loom

Fig. 4 Solar Power Operated Loom

3.2 Khadi Mandir, Bikaner is a distinguished manufacturer and supplier of a wide gamut of

Furniture and Clothes. The company was formed in May, 1943, at Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Furthermore, it is certified by K.V.I.C. It is spread over 25000 square meters. The

company is equipped with fabric dying (Fig. 5 & 6), ironing unit (Fig. 7), carding unit

(Fig. 8), weaving unit and furniture unit. A small stitching unit (Fig. 9) operated under

Rangsutra an NGO who is a supplier for major brands was also visited.

Fig. 5 Dying unit Fig. 6 Fabric dying unit

Fig. 7 Ironing Unit

Fig. 8 Carding unit

Fig. 9 Stitching unit

Fig. 10 Pedal operated handloom

The carding machine is very old (around 40 years) and needs replacement with low cost and

more efficient unit. At the end, the team visited handloom section where the weaving was

being performed by pedal operated handlooms (Fig. 10). The user was interested to make it

bicycle pedal operated.

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