Playing host: Parasnath Hills in Giridih

Ranchi, Sept. 20: Hope is on the horizon for rural entrepreneurs.

The industry department has teamed up with National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), Hyderabad, for five rural technology parks (RTPs) in the state.

Dhirendra Kumar, the managing director of Jharcraft — a state industry department wing — signed an MoU with NIRD a week ago. Though the budget for the ambitious initiative is yet to be estimated, Parasnath Hills in Giridih district has been selected as the first site for the pilot project.

Kumar said the main objective of RTPs would be to improve economic and social status of the rural populace through research and technology upgrade. The RTPs, to be set up on five acres each, will serve as a catalyst to accelerate dissemination of appropriate and affordable technologies to the rural poor for increasing productivity and enhancing their quality of life.

The parks, which will boast theme pavilions, will involve community-based organisations (CBOs), self-help groups (SHGs), gram panchayats (GPs) and non-government organisations (NGOs) to reach technology to rural entrepreneurs, including farmers and artisans.

The SHGs and GPs will purchase raw material and monitor operations. They will also be responsible for quarterly feedback to NIRD.

Every park will have a unit for training on low-cost entrepreneurship, marketing, merchandising and creative skills.

The Jharcraft managing director said the Parasnath RTP would focus on designing tribal jewellery, building bamboo houses and developing soyabean and honey products, besides organic dye. “We are in the final stage of drawing up a budget for the RTPs,” he said.

The industry department has decided to send 20 artisans to NIRD on September 28 for a week-long training on organic dye preparation. “Twenty tribal women will also be trained in jewellery designing at the Hyderabad institute. They will leave the city on September 27,” Kumar said.

Besides, experts from NIRD will also be invited to impart training at the RTPs as and when they come up.