CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, PO Box-6, Palampur-176061 H.P.

Contest for Designing an appropriate Gram Vigyan Kutir (GVK i.e. Village Science Centre)
Introduction Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has a national mission of inclusive growth and improved quality of life for India's 800 million citizens through science and technology interventions that are socially and economically relevant, and named as CSIR 800. CSIR currently plans to set up 25 technology enabled villages (TECHVILS) in different backward locations in the country. One will be in Gopalpur village located about 15 km from Palampur in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. There will be a Gram Vigyan Kutir (GVK) in the TECHVIL, which is a brick and mortar statement of CSIRs commitment in transforming Rural India through technology. The GVKs will be built frugally but innovatively. The design of the GVK will be context-specific, blending with its environment. Youth of the country is required to be made an integral part of the programme for bringing rapid development of the society. It is in this context that the CSIRInstitute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh invites entries of a suitable design for the GVK at Gopalpur, near Palampur (mid-hill area) Distt. Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, from the students of your Institute. The designs will be evaluated by a committee of experts constituted for the purpose and the first two best adjudged entries shall carry a cash award and merit certificate. Purpose of setting up TECHVIL and GVK: 1. The TECHVIL will cater to a population of about 40,000 and will be the platform to disseminate appropriate technology solutions. Typical technological assistance will be in the fields of value added agriculture, potable water, waste to wealth and the other themes of rural development. 2. The GVK will be a place in TECHVIL where the relevant scientists and partners can spend time in the village and fine tune their technologies to take root. It will also be a platform to showcase products for houses - tiles, bricks, doors, window panels, smokeless stoves, sanitary-ware, potable water and other items, as per need. 3. The GVKs will be operated by CSIR initially for 5 years, or to the end of the CSIR 800 program, and then handed to the village authorities who will be responsible for taking care of whats been built/ developed in each place. 4. The essence of the program is to inseminate in people the belief that appropriate technology solutions exist to improve the quality of their lives. 5. The GVK must serve in infusing a sense of community, professionals and interested people involved and working all together.

GVK Design (Desirable) 1. As stated, the GVK will be built frugally but innovatively. The design the GVK will be context-specific, blending with its environment and accepted by the community. 2. GVK should be an efficient and simple model house/centre location specific, incorporating relevant technologies, building materials and methods of construction, electricity, water supply, sanitation and others. 3. The chosen site should be in close proximity to the primary school of every village or to the local market. Thus, it becomes part of the village institutions and has a clear public use, where children can attend workshops, or adult training courses related to CSIR technologies are held. 4. Also, local technologies and laborers skills of each region will be taken into account. 5. The building should allow for expansion, and some open-to-sky spaces included, where some activities can be held. GVK Space Requirements Closed space: 135 sq m Open space: 100 sq m Entrance hall will serve the following uses:
As a small training hall; As an office space with one or two computers system; As a place from where training material will be kept, distributed and placed As a place to display a few select technologies on a rotation basis

(50 sq m)

One small kitchen for guests (10 sq m) Two double bedrooms (2x25=50 sq m) One bathroom to be shared by the 2 bedrooms; (10 sq m) One large toilet and washroom for use by trainees and guests (15 sq m) A large open courtyard to hold most training programmes. (100sq m)

The contestants are desired to provide the designs along with estimated cost involved. The designed should be eco-friendly and use of local resources should be considered. It is requested to ensure the as many entries as possible from the students with due diligence from their Institute so that they get chance to express their innovation . The final selections of the best design shall be made by the evaluation committee. Last Date for the entries: Last date for receiving the entries at the office of the Director, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, PO Box-06, Palampur 176061, is March 11, 2013 (before 5.00 pm).
For any other query you may contact: Dr. R.K. Sud, Coordinator (TECHVIL), CSIR-IHBT, PO Box-6, Palampur-176061 H.P. Phone: 9418218964, E-mail: rksud@ihbt.res.in, rk_sud@yahoo.com