Review meeting on AICRP on Home Science at PJTSAU, Hyderabad on 19-12-2019

A review meeting of AICRP on Home Science was conducted on 19th December, 2019 at AICRP- H.Sc., PG &RC, PJTSAU, Hyderabad by ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar in collaboration with AICRP on Home Science Centre, PJTSAU, Hyderabad. Dr. V. N. Sharada, RAC chairman and Ex-member, ASRB, and members namely Dr. R. Kalpana Sastry, Dr. P.C. Lenka, Dr. S. Prabhu Kumar, Dr. Mahalakshmi, V. Reddy, Dr. P.C. Lenka and Dr. P.K. Dehuri had attended the programme to review the activities and to suggest improvements for effective functioning. Dr. Lipi Das, SIC, AICRP (WIA) had welcomed the members from diversified realms to give their valuable inputs and expected to get constructive ideas. Dr. S.K. Srivastava, Director, ICAR- CIWA, Bhubaneswar in his introductory remarks appraised the RAC members about the 10 recommendations given by QRT for its follow up in the ensuing plan period. Dr. V. Vijayalakshmi, Unit Coordinator, has briefed on work done by AICRP on Home Science since inception and also elucidated the salient achievements of current plan period i.e., 2017-20. Dr. R. Jagadeeshwar, Director of Research, PJTSAU, Hyderabad, welcomed all the delegates and thanked for choosing Hyderabad center for this meeting. He emphasized the need of involvement of line departments related to community sciences duly addressing location specific problems of rural families. Dr. D. Ratna Kumari, Dean of Community Science, PJTSAU, Hyderabad, said that AICRP – H.Sc will follow the suggestions portrayed by the council. She also represented the views of Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Honorable Vice Chancellor to develop a replicable model with integrated activities. Chairperson of the RAC committee expressed his vision to view AICRP – Home Science to work with holistic approach and work on wider perspectiveby covering 21 agro-ecological regions in 29 states by 13 AICRP centers. He insisted that AICRP centers need to assess all government programmes at state and central level and have linkages with all the development departments for creating impact of the technologies. Dr. S. Prabhu Kumar suggested working on formulating Gender specific Socio-Economic policies. Dr. Kalpana Sastry highlighted on importance of water conservation, Dr. P. K. Dehuri has shown concern on the role of ethical committee and its usefulness.Dr. Mahalakshmi V. Reddy appreciated the efforts put by AICRP (H.Sc.) since inception in creating large database but felt that visibility needs to be enhanced.Dr. P.C. Lenka said that proper value chain needs to be developed between AICRP centers, KVKs and farmer. All the dignitaries had meeting with the Honorable Vice Chancellor. Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Hon’ble Vice chancellor gave the overview the developments taken place in university and expressed the need for reorienting the activities of AICRP with holistic approach to have a better impact and visibility. Later all the members visited Tollukatta village for scrutinizing the field level work. Chairman and all the members of RAC have directly interacted with the rural women (SHG and farm) and farmers and discussed about the group activities that are implemented by the AICRP – H.Sc, PJTSAU.