Introduction

State Rural Technology Promotion Council (SRTPC), set up by the Govt. of Assam vide notification no. IGN(E)/99/5 dated 7/6/99 as a joint venture to focus on Rural Technology Transfer, R&D in Human Development, and Information Technology initiatives in rural areas. In the area of rural technology, the council works on Participatory Irrigation Management, Watershed Development Programmes, Joint Forest Management and Protected Area Management. The research in Human Development focuses on population, labour, poverty issues, quality of life, education, social infrastructure, diversification of economic activities and migration. The council also focuses on the response of small enterprises in Information Technology sector and works on industrial clusters, flexible specialization and addresses issues involving intellectual property regimes. Besides these, they also explore the inter-relationship between community-based management, the government and NGOs. The relevant rules SRTPC/RULES/99.