Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has established a common facility centre to help potters of the villages of Tamil Nadu. With this initiative, the potters can cater to the latest consumer demands of microwavable cooking utensils. IIT Madras is playing a pivotal role for sustainability of the potters so that their income increase by three to four times.
Many potters and their families have been living below the poverty line. IIT-Madras has facilitated modern machinery with skill and product training to make potters keep pace with the demands of the consumers.
RuTAG brings forth sustainability by coordinating with CSD, CGCRI, IOCL, government agencies, and the local artisans. For follow-up technology activities, the institution strives to identify the needs of artisans and provides relevant technological solutions that are carved out by faculty members or students.
The common facility centre at IIT – Madras was inaugurated this month in presence of Tiruvallur District Collector, Dr Alby John Varghese, IOCL Executive Director, SS Sawant, RuTAG-IIT Madras Professor In-Charge, Prof Abhijit Deshpande, Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Mission (TNSRLM) Project Officer, P Malliga, Centre for Social Development) Director (Kanyakumari), Dr Bagavatheeswaran, and Perumudivakkam Panchayat President, Balalakshmi Venkatesan.The initiative encourages adoption of similar projects in different pottery clusters throughout the state.