Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India inaugurated the National Consultation on Technology Bank (Te Bank) at National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) on 20th October, 2008. In his inaugural address, at the outset, Dr. Kalam congratulated the NIRD for the establishment of Technology Bank. He observed that rural citizens have to be benefited through various technologies, both farm and non-farm sectors for societal transformation. He noted that innovations will come from various grassroots innovators which have to be identified. In this context Dr. Kalam suggested that NIRD should collaborate with the National Innovation Foundation which is doing a good work. He observed that rural people have the capacity to find creative solutions to their problems but they need institutional support. Transferring knowledge from the laboratory to the farm or non-farm sector is possible with the cooperation of the institutions working in the field is another aspect. Dr. Kalam suggested that NIRD may undertake a nation wide survey to identify the technologies for the benefit of the rural people and also connect the people, the innovators, the partners, the trainers under the Technology Bank. Around 6000 villages in the country will have various technologies in the areas like agriculture, rural industries, health etc. Local youth can be engaged for mapping such innovations. Dr. Kalam suggested that NIRD may prepare local youth to work in such projects who would be the technology ambassadors for transferring the technology to the rural people. Awards may be given to the youth who show outstanding performance, through the Ministry of Rural Development. The Technology Bank should develop systematic methods for dissemination of various technologies. According to Dr. Kalam the formula for development is GDP plus quality of life system, including right food, shelter and productive employment, etc. The mission of India is to achieve prosperity and bring smile on the faces of the rural people and the innovators, technology providers, and institutions in the field can be the prosperity generators of India. During his address Dr. Kalam also narrated various success stories about different technologies developed in some of the areas in the states like Bihar, Assam etc.

During his visit to NIRD, Dr. Abdul Kalam also had an interactive session with the students of the Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Rural Development Management and advised them to be leader managers and suggested that they should live in rural areas if they have to become good rural leaders.

Shri B.K. Sinha, Director General, NIRD, welcomed Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Directors of ICRISAT, NAARM, MANAGE, APARD, participants to the National Consultation on Technology Bank (Te Bank), members of the faculty, students of PGDRDM course, participants of other ongoing courses in the institute, members of the press and other invitees. While briefing about the Technology Bank, the Director General observed that the Technology Bank is being viewed as a virtual proposition. It proposes to use all instrumentalities available - a National Portal, existing communication highways, the vast network of training and educational institutions, the Panchayati Raj Institutions and the people's institutions, the vastly consolidated voluntary sector and the concerned individuals to link up the technology producing institutions with the people living in the villages. This concept will succeed only when it withstands the acid test of markets, he felt. The Te Bank proposes to integrate the public sector marketing institutions and the corporate firms for providing market, market related information and design support. The Bankers will be there to link up credit with the need. The Te Bank primarily aims at convergence, linkages and networking utilizing the existing training infrastructure, universities (technical and general), the unemployed youth, the people's institutions, the voluntary initiatives, the market institutions and the concerned individuals for making this endeavour a national phenomenon. This Consultation is on operationalisation of the concept.

Shri K.N. Kumar, Deputy Director General, NIRD proposed the vote of thanks.