By Tanmay Sharma
Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Roorkee (Uttarakhand), April 22, 2026: In a significant step towards strengthening rural economies, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Roorkee) has facilitated the transfer of innovative rural technologies aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods and grassroots entrepreneurship.
The initiative has been undertaken through IIT Roorkee’s Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG), with support from the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. It focuses on bridging the gap between rural challenges and advanced technological solutions through demand-driven innovation.
IIT Roorkee has developed and transferred two technologies:
The RuTAG 2.0 team at IIT Roorkee has developed and transferred two impactful technologies:
Multi-millet dehusking machine—enables efficient processing of millets, reduces processing time and manual labour, minimizes grain damage, and improves productivity for small-scale farmers.
Hemp decorticator machine—separates hemp fibers from woody core efficiently, supports industries such as textiles, construction, and composites, and opens new income opportunities for rural communities.
These technologies are specifically designed to enhance efficiency while reducing labour intensity in rural processing sectors.
Industry partnerships for scale:
To ensure wider adoption and commercialization, technology transfer agreements were signed with industry partners, including Indo Climate Lab Private Limited, Jai Maa Durga Engg Co, and Dhiman Enterprises.
The agreements were formalized in the presence of senior IIT Roorkee officials, including Vivek Kumar and Sai Ramudu Meka, along with the RuTAG team led by Sunil Kumar Singal and Sonal K Thengane.
Driving grassroots impact:
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Vivek Kumar Malik emphasized that the initiative reflects IIT Roorkee’s commitment to translating research into real-world impact by enabling industry participation in scaling innovations.
Prof. Sunil Kumar Singal highlighted that RuTAg technologies are specifically designed technologies are specifically designed to address the practical needs of rural communities, and their transfer will lead to improved efficiency and increase income for farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
Kamal Kishore Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, underlined the broader vision: “initiatives like RuTAG demonstrate how academic research can align with grassroots needs, enabling sustainable livelihoods, strengthening inclusive development.”
The initiative has already attracted strong interest from multiple organizations, indicating significant potential for large-scale adoption. By promoting such technology transfers, IIT Roorkee is advancing sustainable rural development, supporting the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, and encouraging inclusive, grassroots innovations.
Overall, this effort highlights how institutions like IIT Roorkee are moving beyond research to create tangible socio-economic impact—empowering rural communities with technology-driven solutions for a sustainable future.
Also Read: IIT Roorkee sets up advanced R&D facility for next-gen hydro technologies.
EOM.
