Objectives

Objectives of this programme are to-Generate income and create job opportunities at village level by transferring available  technologies technologies  to villages Developing new technologies for village requirements Upgrading local and indigenous technologies available in villages  for increasing the Quality of the products. Efficiency of the Enterprises and Market competence.

Components

There are three major components in this Vidatha Technology  Transfer Programme.

1. Vidatha Resource Centre  

A network of resource centres with effective connectivity and local information Databases, one per each Divisional Secretary Area

2. Vidatha Society        

Voluntary Community Societies at Village- Divisional- and District  levels to link rural population with these centres

3. Cooperating bodies  

R & D Centres geared up to develop and transfer required technology and other cooperating bodies such as Govt., Non-Govt. and private          organizations that are prepared to provide required facilities and services.

1. Vidatha Resource Centre

Vidatha Resource Centre is a small Govt. office of the Ministry of Technology & Research , headed by a Science & Technology Officer, functioning under the close supervision of Divisional  Secretary. This will function as a Resource Centre for technology transfer activities in the area.

Location:

One at every Divisional Secretary Area

Staff:

One Science and Technology Officer (S&T)

One Computer Operator

One Field Officer

Two Minor Staff members

Facilities:

Internet, E-mail and Fax sending and receiving facilities

Computers and other required office equipments

Facilities for holding training classes & meetings

Space for displaying new technological exhibits

Vidatha Resource Centre Functions

·         Provide connectivity for E-mail and Internet facilities to connect local people with nationally and internationally available Research Centres and Scientists.

·         Carry out surveys, collect information and maintain a database on locally available resource, especially human resource, raw material and other useful information for self-employed and prospective entrepreneurs.

·         Form Vidatha Societies in the area for self-employed, prospective entrepreneurs and other people interested in Science and Technology.

·         Prepare and implement technology transfer action plans for the area to introduce new technologies with the help of R&D Centres and other cooperating bodies.

·         Support SMEE by providing them with suitable technological solutions, scientific knowledge, training and other information.

·         Collect information on indigenous and traditional technologies and upgrade them with the help of R&D Centres and other cooperating bodies.

·         Encourage acquiring and practising scientific knowledge as well as popularising science by organizing exhibitions etc.

·         Display exhibits on technologies newly developed by R&D Centres and assist entrepreneurs to procure them.

·         Give free basic computer training for Vidata Society members.

Vidatha Resource Centre Steering Committee

Activities of each Vidatha Resource Centre will be managed by a Steering Committee set up as follows:

·         Chairman:                         

·         Divisional Secretary

·         Members:           

o        Representatives from Vidatha & other Societies

o        Representatives of cooperating bodies;

o        S&T Officer of the VRC

o        Vidatha Field Coordinator

2. Vidatha Soceity 

These are Voluntary Self-help Societies of self-employed, prospective entrepreneurs, SMEs and other people interested in Science and Technology

Location:

Societies will be set up at village level (Grama Niladhari Division.)

Membership

Will be allowed to persons who are engaged or interested in -

•         science and technology research, development and innovations,

•         industrial production and services,

•         self-employment activities

•         education and training in science and technology

•         etc.

Secondary and Apex Level Unions & Federations

Vidatha Societies will be encouraged to form into Secondary and Apex Level Councils to solve their common problems

Activities

Provide technological solutions to Members with the help of Vidatha Resource Centres

Assist Members in obtaining services from other Govt. Offices and Organizations in the area

Assist Members in utilizing the services of Banks and other capital providers, Marketing Agencies, Training Institutions etc.

Facilitate Members in finding solutions to entrepreneurial problems

Participate at steering Vidatha Resource Centre activities

3. Cooperating bodies 

R & D Centres geared up to develop and transfer required technology and Govt., Non-Govt. and private sector organizations that are prepared to provide required facilities and services are identified as Cooperating Bodies of this Programme.

Representatives of locally available following organizations will be taken into Steering

Committee of Resource Centres.

o        Research & Development Centers;

o        Govt. Departments & Cooperations;

o        Non-Govt. Organizations;

o        Banks & other Credit Providers;

o        Private Companies and

o        Provincial Councils, Pradeshiya Sabas and other Local Authorities.