SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Mar 10: The IIT Indian School of Mines (ISM) today organised a workshop at Fatehpur block of Jamtara district and made tribal farmers of remote villages aware of the welfare schemes to help them evolve as farm-based entrepreneurs.
The day-long workshop was organised by the IIT ISM department of Management and Study in which around 180 farmers of Rajmath, Mahalbana, Jhinaki, Mahilakhuara, and Lakharhagga participated.
They were apprised of various welfare schemes of agriculture, farmers’ entrepreneurship promotion schemes, PM Kisaan Maan Dhan Yojana, group accident insurance, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yoja and other
Dr Rajni Singh, assistant professor of the Management and Study department said the workshop was organised to improve the economic well-being of scheduled tribe (ST) communities using game theoretic and operation research techniques during which besides farmers, people’s representatives, ground-level workers and volunteers including, Sevika, Sahayika, Anganbari Sevi, Sahiya, Jal Sahiya, Krishi Mitra, SHGs also took park.
Mukesh Kumar Bauri, block development officer was also present and explained the intricacies of the scheme.
Dr Rashmi Singh, who is the principal investigator of the project, said that the workshop series is being held as part of a study that proposes that farmers should be viewed as “investors” of valuable resources: time, land, labour, and capital.
“Though the government has introduced multiple schemes for the welfare of the farmers these schemes do not empower them as decision-makers and thus perpetuate sub-optimal use of financial incentives,” said Prof Singh. She was accompanied by Prof Niladri Das, Associate Professor of the department.
“The aim of this study is to encourage farmers (ST) to evolve as ‘farm-based entrepreneurs’ who are equipped to make financial decisions and develop an optimal scientific mechanism that can give them feasible options for effective resource allocation and savings,” further said Prof Singh.
Prof Singh said this will encourage the habit of saving among the farmers and will help them in reducing indebtedness.
Moreover, this will eventually improve the financial condition of the scheduled tribes (ST) communities and inculcate a strong sense of economic freedom, which is essential for a healthy ecosystem.
