APPLICATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT

PROJECTS SELECTED FOR FUNDING WILL BE JUDGED USING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: RELEVANCE OF CONCERNED TECHNOLOGY TO IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS IN RURAL AREAS; RELATIVE COSTS AND BENEFITS; DIRECT VS INDIRECT COSTS AND BENEFITS; APPROPRIATENESS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OR DELIVERY; AND POTENTIAL FOR INCREASING THE INCOME OF THE RURAL POOR. SEVERAL PROJECTS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR SUCH CONSIDERATION,INCLUDING RESEARCH ON SOLAR ENERGY UTILIZATION; DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS; FIELD TESTING AND DEMONSTRATION OF SOLAR CELLS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND FOR WATER PUMPING; HYDROPOWER; AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. (BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE SAMPLE PROJECTS APPEAR IN ANNEXES A AND B TO THE PROJECT PAPER.) PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN PART BY THE INDO/US JOINT COMMISSION FOR INDO-US COOPERATION -- A COMMISSION FORMED OF US AND INDIAN SCIENTISTS/TECHNICIANS WHICH MEETS ANNUALLY TO DISCUSS AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN THE ECONOMIC,COMMERCIAL,SCIENTIFIC,TECHNOLOG ICAL,EDUCATIONAL,AND CULTURAL FIELDS. AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT OF THE PROJECT WILL BE THE STRENGTHENING OF THE JOINT COMMISSION THROUGH ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THIS PROJECT. THE GOI"S IMPLEMENTING AGENT FOR THIS PROJECT,THE DEPT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY(DS&T), WILL AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURES AND FUNCTION AS SECRETARIAT FOR PROJECT ADMINISTRATION. USAID WILL ASSUME A SUPPORTING ROLE,HAVING CONCURRENCE,DISBURSEMENT,LIAISON,AND PROCUREMENT APPROVAL DUTIES; THESE DUTIES WILL REQUIRE THE ASSIGNMENT OF A FULL-TIME USAID ADVISOR IN NEW DELHI. THE SELECTION OF PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A TEAM COMPOSED OF JOINT COMMISSION,DS&T,AND USAID PERSONNEL. Update on renewable energy activities: Four subprojects focused on renewable energy: village photovoltaic and biogas systems; solar drying systems for agricultural produce; line-focusing solar concentrators; and micro-hydro and hybrid systems. (PD-AAN-204, XD-AAR-453) Update on renewable energy activities: Project title changed to "Technologies for the Rural Poor". (PD-CAA-554)