Month away from a new Millennium, we are still left with many tasks undone to bridge the gap between Science & Technology and the common man. In a vast country like ours, the Govt. alone can not fulfill this task and it has to take the support and initiatives of Non-Govt. Organisations and people at large, who have their roots spread throughout the length and breadth of the country. The researchers in our Universities and R & D Institutions have done many excellent work which can bring qualitative changes in the livelihood of our countrymen. But sometimes these do not find the right avenue and get confined within the four walls of the laboratories.

The issue is to transfer the technology from "laboratory to Land" to solve the problems of the common people and secondly to technologically upgrade the traditional skill in the country and unleash an enigma that can bring about a transformation specially in the up-country. Over the last decade, a few successful technological models have been developed which have applicability across geographic barriers. Time has come to carry these success stories forward so that it add some value to the lives of the common people.

West Bengal represents one of the most ideal situation in such a scenario. Over the last two decades the state had some remarkable achievements in the field of Rural Development. With land reforms, the agricultural productivity in the rural area has increased a lot. With the establishment of a successful three-tier Panchayati Raj System, a truly decentralised administrative set up has been achieved.

Now the most important component, which is required, is the "Technology". Technology facilitates cost-effectiveness, sustainability and eco-friendliness, which are the key factors for development. The vast potential, untapped in territory sector, needs to be addressed to enhance the productivity and value addition in rural economy. Technological input cannot be undermined and requires to be integrated in every sphere of life. Technology can play vital role in productive sector, in service sector and even in the planning process. A judicious and balanced approach on Technology Transfer may lead to a synergy through convergence of key players - Technology Developers, Implementing authorities and the people. Unfortunately, the process of development in post-independent India didn’t follow this balanced approach. Large number of Research Laboratories were set up, thousands of dedicated and patriotic scientists and technologists worked hard, much have been discussed on "Lab to Land" programmes, some progress was made - but not to the extent of our satisfaction largely due to lack of structured collaborative programmes in a holistic way.

The country needs consorted efforts from many quarters - the researchers, who would develop the technology, the NGOs and CBOs, who would transfer them, institutions, who would play catalytic role and support technology transfer process and the local Govt. (Panchayet / Municipalities) who would adopt the proven technology and integrate the same with the ongoing development endeavour. With this end in view, the Interactive Session - TRIBENI, was held, where CSIR Laboratories (e.g. National Metallurgical Laboratory, Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute, Central Road Research Institute, Central Leather Research Institute, Regional Research Institute of Bhubaneswar and Trivandrum, National Institute of Science & Technology Advance Studies etc.), Dept. of Rural Development & Panchayet, Govt. of West Bengal, Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of West Bengal, a few Zilla Parishads and Municipalities participated. A few specific problems have been identified, where the R&D Institutions will concentrate to provide technological solutions and the NGOs will co-ordinate the entire activities. Immediately such programme will come up in the District of North 24-Parganas. State of the Art Lectures were given by Dr. M. N. Dastur - Eminent Engineer and Industrialist, CMD - M.N. Dastur & Co., Dr. Ramchandra Rao - Director - National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, Dr. Manju Sharma - Secretary, Dept. of Bio-technology, Govt. of India, Dr. Sankar Sen - MIC of Power, S&T and NES, Sri V. Suresh - CMD, HUDCO and Dr. K. C. Lahiri - Director (Power), BHEL theme being Technology for Equality, S&T input for development of Rural Artisans - Role of scientists and peoples science activists, Bio-technology in India, Information Technology, Technology for Sustainable Development and Energy Perspective respectively.

Mounting concern to arrest environmental degradation resulting from traditional dependence on fossil fuel has been discussed in Environment Subcongress and with this feed back the Energy Subcongress shifted the focus on harnessing renewable energy sources. It was felt that we react in right earnest to the need of the hour and make most of ours strength and potential for the promotion of renewable use. Village economies have a strong link with ecology and bio-diversity. The reliance of welfare rests heavily not only on resources but on this two aspects of biological life. Market based approaches to the management of resources are not enough in this context. Due to mix of private and common properties existing simultaneously and due to their strong complementary, a new institution of people’s participation becomes inevitable. A process of participatory development is defined as one in which some of the natural resources such as land, water, forest, and, possibly, livestock are collectively managed. All these require and integrated planning with people’s participation at grass-root level. The role of Information Technology plays an important role in management of resources. The papers in Information Technology Subcongress presented a few models for such application of IT for Rural Development.

The cost optimised techniques in construction (Building, Roads and other infrastructure like Drainage etc.) is the need of the day. Considering the scarcity of capital in the country. It was highly appreciated that any cost optimised technique, not sacrificing the quality and standard, will help the economy even at macro level and the Habitat Subcongress dealt with specific issues like Door-Window fabrication, slum improvement through spatial planning, urban renewal etc. In the Agriculture and Bio-technology Subcongress covered the areas like insect control, use of bio-fertilizer, use of jute geo-textiles for conservation of soil and water, post harvest technologies, social forestry, horticulture, floriculture (fruit and vegetables preservation, processing and transportation).

The large number of Rural Artisans, having equipped with traditional skill are not considered as the human resource of our country and the developmental plan on the independent India never took cognizance of these artisans e.g. blacksmiths, potters, carpenters, flyers etc. The Artisanal Technology Subcongress evolved some models on Technology Transfer for skill upgradation of these artisans, so that they can produce value added items and can ensure compatibility in the existing market. More over the Environment Subcongress also deliberated on the national issues like disaster management use of flyash, clean-coal technology, joint forest management etc.

At the end it was proposed that the People’s Technology Congress should be a regular national event and attempt should be made to organise such events in a more befitting way in other parts of the country. For the state of West Bengal an action plan has been developed on Technology Transfer, by way of setting up Technology Resource Centre at district level. These Technology Resource Centres will act as the nodal points for identification of needs through investigation and survey, evolving the appropriate modules for technology to be transferred in consultation with the S&T Institutions. The TRC will also catered the need of training the local youth for self employment and resource utilisation.

In the Valedictory Session Dr. Suryakanta Mishra - MIC of Panchayat & Rural Development, Govt. of West Bengal, Dr. C. J. Johny - Advisor, DST, Govt. of India addressed to all the participant, scientists and technologists about their role to play to meet the challenge of next millennium by propagating the fruits of Science & Technology among the vast masses specially rural areas of our mother land.