GUWAHATI, March 13 � Techniche, the annual Techno-Management Festival of IIT Guwahati is going to witness its 17th edition in September this year. As a part of its �Initiatives� module, Techniche has launched a programme �Pragati- Growth for everyone� to bring about an improvement in the lives of the residents of a village called �LatiyaBagicha� at Amingaon.
As a part of Pragati, a teaching programme is under way to serve the basic education of the children. They are being taught elementary subjects like basic arithmetic, natural sciences and other moral principles of life. These classes are being conducted every Friday and Saturday.
Techniche has also taken up a rural street-lighting initiative under �Pragati�, and streetlights which work on solar power and are both ecological and economic have been installed in the village.
The residents were also educated regarding the use of these lights and their maintenance.
The villagers are also being educated about different issues like causes of diseases and preventive measures, women empowerment, effect of tobacco and drinking, drug abuse and illicit trafficking, importance of sanitation, health and hygiene. As part of the effort to make the villagers aware about the current socio-political situation in the country, the villagers are being introduced to various government policies and welfare schemes.
From its humble beginning in 1999, Techniche has grown to become one of the premier Techno-Management festivals of the nation.
�Growth is a wonderful thing, and its benefits should be reaped by everyone. Unfortunately, in a country as large as ours, with diverse needs and circumstances, it is a major challenge to bring everyone into the folds of growth. In such a situation, it becomes everyone�s responsibility to ensure that growth does not become a prerogative to certain sections of the society,� said a functionary of Techniche�15 - IIT Guwahati, adding that for bringing a change in rural India it is important for everyone to lend a helping hand.
