Organisation

About the Institute

• A branch organisation of Sri Ramakrishna Ashram, Nimpith, in the Sundarbans (the coastal and saline zone of West Bengal).
• Began its journey in 1991 and has grown steadily since then.
• Functions under the Core Support Programme of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India.
• Supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), DST, and CAPART (Government of India).

Institutional Recognition

• SIRO (Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation): Recognised by DSIR, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.
• PG Research Laboratory: Recognised by the University of Burdwan for postgraduate and doctoral research.
• Technology Resource Centre: Serves CAPART (Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology) for the coastal saline zone of West Bengal.
• Postgraduate Diploma Centre: Runs a Post Graduate Diploma Course of the University of Calcutta.

Vision

• To take the benefits of science and technology to the remotest families.
• To develop the whole area rather than isolated individuals or sectors.

Approach

• Programme development: Assessing local needs, then designing and developing multi-skill biotechnology programmes.
• Local capacity building: Training village people so that scientific knowledge and skills stay within the community.
• Grassroots service: Using this trained village workforce to provide services and build a local knowledge base.

Funding and Partnerships

• Government agencies: DBT, DST, and CAPART (Government of India).
• Private and international agencies: Jamsetji Tata Trust, the Volkart Foundation, and the European Union.

Core Objective

• To give rural people the skills and knowledge they need for sustainable development.
• To work towards holistic rural development, meaning economic, social and educational progress.
• To protect the environment, which is especially important in the fragile Sundarbans ecosystem.