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NB INSTITUTE FOR RURAL TECHNOLOGY (NBIRT) |
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In order to cultivate scientific attitude amongst the rural children of Tripura and to generate scientific temperament amongst the student, NBIRT setup the first rural Science Centre of Tripura at ‘Arkaneer’, Sekerkote on 2nd March, 1996 with various participatory types of exhibits like VORTEX, HOLOGRAPHY, REACTION TIME, COMPUTER QUIZ etc. 3-D Flim has been added in the year 2006 which have become very popular amongst the visitors. NBIRT has good link with Birla Industrial & Technologist Museum, Kolkata and M/S Anukrity of West Bengal – a Engineering and Scientific Model making organisation. More than 10,000 Nos. children & visitors visited the Science Centre during the year 2004-2005.
Students of different School under the programme of National Social Service (NSS) and the students of RD Department of Tripura University often visit Arkaneer to get first hand knowledge on various Rural Development Activities. Farmers of Tripura visit Arkaneer every year to gather the knowledge regarding Soil Testing and Agriculture related issues.
NBIRT also organise special Science Popularisation Programme for the Tribal Children. This popular Programme is sponsored by Deptt. of Tribal Welfare Govt. of Tripura. Under this programme about 1000 Nos. tribal Children visited the ‘Arkaneer’ Science Centre and gathered knowledge regarding various aspects of Science through participation in Science game and quiz.
Rural Housing
Development of Alternative Building Technology materials in the housing sector is an important area. NB Institute for Rural Technology is working in this area for the last six years with the financial support from HUDCO. The Institute has set up the first Building Centre named as “WEST TRIPURA BUILDING CENTRE” of the state at Arkaneer, Sekerkote, West Tripura. The main objective of the Building Centre is to propagate alternative building materials and technology in the state of Tripura with special reference to the rural areas. The Institute has developed and promoted a large number of cost effective construction materials for the housing sector. Some of the items being produced in the Building Centre of the Institute are: - * Mud Blocks * MCR roof tiles * Ferro cement based plates and Channel tiles * F.C. panels tiles * F.C. water tank * F.C. table top * R.C.C. Door * R.C.C. Window Frames etc. These materials are Eco-Friendly and much cheaper than any other conventional construction materials. The Institute has a training centre to train the Engineers, Masons and other Technicians on low cost housing technology. The trainees come from different Nagar Panchayat, Block, NGOs, RD Department and other Building Centre of North-Eastern Region. Trained people are now working in different part of Tripura to propagate alternative building technology. Infact West Tripura Building Centre is now playing a catalytic role in respect of alternative building technology movement in the State of Tripura. The Institute has already constructed fourteen number houses in the year 1994 -1995 for the tribal adopting low cost housing technology with the financial help of TRIBAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, Govt. of Tripura West Tripura Building Centre as per request of the DEPARTMENT OF WELFARE FOR SC & OBC, Govt. of Tripura has already constructed 100 Nos. dwelling houses at Pratapgarh Hrishi Colony, Agartala Under ‘EWS Scheme and 50 Nos. Dwelling houses at Abhoynagar, Agartala under ‘VAMBAY Scheme’. 65 Nos. Dwelling house has been constructed by the West Tripura Building Centre (WTBC) at Biterban, Agartala under slum improvement activities adopting the cost effective construction technology with the financial help of AGARTALA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL. WTBC in association with MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY PROMOTION COUNCIL (BMTPC), New Delhi, constructed four numbers bamboo demonstration houses at various places in the state of Tripura. WTBC also constructed many houses in the private sectors. The centre is fully equipped with all types of plants and machinaries & qualified Engineers and Masons to move with the alternative building technology programme in the State. At present about two hundred numbers skill and unskill workers are working in the centre every day. Two numbers low cost construction materials production centres have been setup by the trained engineers with the all type of assistance from WTBC. They are working in different parts of Tripura and doing well.
Some of the areas where ‘Arkaneer’ building centre has been able to make significant progress are:
¨ Propagation of Mud-Block Technology. ¨ Propagation of Ferro- Cement Technology. ¨ Propagation of Micro-concrete Technology. ¨ Propagation of RCC Door and window frame. ¨ Development of Model House for Urban & Rural areas. ¨ Propagation of Fibre Glass Technology. (Doors and window making) |