Srinagar, Oct 6: A workshop on “RuTAGe Smart Village Centre (RSVC)” was held in Srinagar on Monday to explore technology-enabled, inclusive and sustainable solutions for rural development in Jammu and Kashmir.

The workshop was chaired by Babila Rakwal, Administrative Secretary, Science & Technology Department. Sapna Poti, Director Strategic Alliance, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India, Dr P. R. Dhar, CEO JAKEDA, and senior officers from Agriculture, Rural Development, Health, Education, Tribal Affairs and other departments participated in the deliberations.
Representatives from SKUAST-Kashmir, NABARD, J&K SRLM, universities, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), NGOs and other partner institutions also attended.
The discussions focused on developing RSVCs as platforms for convergence of technology, local resources, government schemes, institutions and community participation to address the specific needs of rural communities.
Participants stressed the importance of location-specific and need-based solutions, particularly for remote mountainous, border and tribal areas of J&K. Key areas identified included agriculture and horticulture, post-harvest management, food processing, storage, market linkages, rural livelihoods, women-led enterprises, skill development, renewable energy, digital connectivity, health and education.
The workshop also explored decentralised clean-energy solutions to improve power access in underserved areas and technology-enabled interventions to strengthen healthcare and education delivery. Appropriate technologies, participants noted, can help overcome geographical barriers while generating new livelihood opportunities.
Emphasis was also laid on inter-departmental and institutional convergence. Academic and technical institutions were encouraged to contribute through research, innovation, technology demonstration and technical support, while NABARD, J&K SRLM, FPOs, PACS and NGOs can facilitate community-level implementation and livelihood linkages.
The participants were invited to identify potential villages or clusters, priority sectors, suitable technologies, existing schemes for convergence, implementation partners and measurable outcomes. The deliberations are expected to help formulate a practical roadmap for establishing RSVCs across J&K.
The workshop underscored that a smart village should not merely be technology-equipped, but one where innovation improves quality of life, creates employment and income, strengthens access to essential services, promotes local entrepreneurship and ensures sustainable use of natural resources.
The initiative seeks to take technology and innovation to the grassroots, making them effective enablers of livelihoods, essential services and resilient rural development in Jammu and Kashmir.