Bio-Data

Dr. Vibha Gupta

Address: Magan Sangrahalaya, Wardha-442001(Maharashtra)
Tel, Fax, & E-mail: Tel - 07152-245082, Fax - 07152-244522
E-mail – vibha@womentech.org

Qualified as an economist with B.A. in Economics from Delhi University and M.S. in Social Work in
1974, Dr. Vibha Gupta took her postgraduate degrees in Social Science from Canada and Netherlands in
1979. She earned her Ph.D. in the subject, ‘Transfer of Technology amongst Rural Women’ from the
Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi in 1982.

In 1975, she worked as project director at Indian Council of Child welfare, New Delhi where she
coordinated the National Bravery award for children, Homework scheme for poor children and National
integration camps for children

In 1976, she co-founded the Center of Science for Villages (CSV), in Wardha (Maharashtra State). This
nationally and internationally recognized institution is developing & promoting economically viable and
environmentally sound appropriate technologies to create entrepreneurship in the rural population. During
the last decade, Center of Science for Villages has developed 75 technologies in the areas of renewable
energy specially Biogas; mud housing; low cost sanitation; scientific extraction of forest produce
specially honey and gum; single bullock operated agriculture tools; organic agriculture inputs like herbal
pesticides and manure; hand made paper from banana stem and other agro residues; improved tools for
artisans like blacksmith and potters; irrigation technology that is low on water and high on yield; herbal
beverages as healthy substitute to aerated drinks; energy conserving cooking and preservation devices;
low cost water filters; rain water harvesting technology and many others.

For the past 25 years, Vibha has dedicated her efforts to developing rural economy by mobilizing
scientific and technical innovations, specifically for natural sustainable farming, developing women
entrepreneurs, and in keeping the traditional artisans skills and their markets.

Dr. Vibha Gupta is presently the Chairperson of Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti, the National Museum of
Rural Technology started by Mahatma Gandhi. Her current initiatives include:

 Watershed Management and Development: With a team of Engineers, Agriculture Scientists and
Social Workers, she is involved in watershed conservation and development work, covering 10
water scarcity villages of Samudrapur block of Wardha district.

 Women Entrepreneurship - She along with her team of social workers have mobilized 10,000
rural women of Seloo and Samudrapur block (Wardha) and formed 600 Women Self Help
Groups (SHGs). To economically empower the SHGs, the women members are trained in various
cottage enterprises. Presently 34 women owned enterprises, based on local material and local
market, are in operation.

 Heading the Karigar Panchayat, a voluntary movement to support, protect and empower
traditional artisans. More than 2 lakh artisans from different states of India are associated with
Karigar Panchayat, working on issues for national policies, technological upgrades, and fair
market etc.

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  The other major area of her work is production and sale of Khadi, handmade cloth. Assisted by
100 Khadi spinners, weavers, and tailors, they are manufacturing and selling Khadi worth Rs.50
lakh per year. With help of Decentralized Cotton Yarn Trust, Andhra Pradesh she is working on
decentralized production of Organic Khadi and Natural Dyes. The Natural Dye Unit has
developed 300 shades of organic dyes out of which 64 shades as regular dyes.

 With assistance from Ministry of Science & Technology, Vibha developed a Technology Centre
for Rural Women, serving as a hub to disseminate appropriate technologies to reduce drudgery
and remove hazards of women working at home, farm, field, and factories. It is introducing
technologies that will generate local employment.

 As part of the National Organic Farming Movement, Vibha and her team is closely working with
2000 farmers of Samudrapur Block to motivate, train, organize and support local farmers by
providing technical and material input to shift from chemical based to organic farming. The
institution has received the Certification of Organic Farm Produce and is setting up market
network for organic producers.

In addition to her initiatives and programs at Magan Sangrahalya, Vibha has been involved with the
following related national and international activities:

 In 1977, she became the Executive Committee member of International Network, SATIS
(Socially Appropriate Technology Information Systems).
 During 1980-81 she participated in its activities in Senegal (Africa), Lima and Peru (Latin
America).
 In 1982, she and a group of young scientists formed the Academy of Young Scientists. In 1983-
84, the Planning Commission assigned the Academy the work of ‘Involvement of Young
Scientists in undertaking Society-Related Science & Technology Problems’. Under this project
she traveled widely throughout India meeting students, teachers, scientists, activists at technical
institutes, universities, National and Regional laboratories. As an outcome of this exercise two
major schemes ‘Young Scientists Scheme’ and ‘Senior Scientist Scheme’ were included in the
Department of Science and Technology for rural development.
 In 1988, she worked for the Planning Commission on the ‘Science and Poverty Alleviation
Program’.
 During 1991 – 1992, she consulted to UNICEF to suggest ways for wider dissemination of the
Rural Sanitation among rural women and children.
 In 1992-1993, when Houses for the Poor was leading scheme in many of the SAARC countries,
with the support of UNESCO, Vibha organized a course on Low Cost Housing for Architects
and Engineers of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
 In 1995, she assisted the UNIFEM in preparation of policy document for the World Women
Conference held at Beijing, china and also participated in meetings held at United Nations, New
York for drafting a composite agenda for Beijing World Women conference.
 In 1995-96 the Ministry of Rural Development appointed Vibha Gupta, member of the Task
Force constituted to appraise the Indira Awaas Yojana (Housing for the poor) for seven states of
western India. Her efforts culminated in substantial participation of women in the Indira Awaas
Yojana and led a large number of women beneficiary to acquire ownership of the house.
 In 1996 she was selected member of the National Committee for "Technical Education for Real
India" set up by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

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  In 1997, she played a major role in founding the All India Artisans' Guild - Karigar Panchayat,
which is a collective movement of Artisans, Scientists, Technologists and Policy Planners.
Karigar Panchayat has now become a national movement with thousands of members.
 In 1999, UNESCO sponsored Vibha Gupta to organize short-term course on Technology for
Rural Women for women professionals of voluntary agencies of Srilanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan
and Nepal.
 As Expert Committee Member of Women Science and Technology Division of Ministry of
S&T, she assisted in setting up Women Technology Centers in the critical Arid and Desert areas
of Gujarat and Rajasthan. As part of this task she traveled widely across the deserts of Gujarat
and Rajasthan and interacted with thousands of rural women and 145 local voluntary
organizations.
 In 2000, she was invited by the Union Public Service Commission, Government of India to
review the system of the Civil Service Examination and recommend changes and innovations in
its method.
 In the same year she was selected member of the National Organizing Committee on 'National
Debate on Developmental Reforms - Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development’,
constituted by Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India.
 She is on the advisory Committees of CAPART, New Delhi, Ministry of Rural Development
and Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi.
She assisted the Ministry of Women and Child welfare in the Swashakti Program (a World Bank
& IFAD Assisted project) in incorporating the concept of Science and Technology for rural
women in their programs.

Dr. Gupta is regularly invited by international organizations for her expertise in rural development. These
include:
 In 1994, the Institute of Appropriate Rural Technology and Extension Skills, Glueksberg,
German invited Dr. Vibha Gupta as Guest Lecturer to conduct the course on Transfer of
Technologies to Rural Women.
 In 1995, at the international meet held at John Hopkins University, Baltimore the Student
Pugwash invited Dr. Gupta as a Women and development specialist.
 The Southern Illinois University, St. Louis, USA invited her to present her work on rural
technology to the Department of Women Studies.
 At Washington DC, she addressed forums at the World Bank, UN women wing, US
Environmental Protection Agency, Institute of Policy Studies, World Wide Net, etc.
 In 1998, she visited Nepal, Bangladesh and Srilanka to study the problems of Rural Housing and
Sanitation. Here she held meetings with concerned government departments, school of planning
and architect to develop systems to reach out to women and the poorest.
 In 2001, she initiated the ‘Village Technology Network’ as part of the Pan IIT conference in
Washington DC, where institutions like the Gandhi Memorial, India Development Group,
Institute of Local Self Reliance, World Watch Institute & Karuna charities organized her
presentation for students, policy planners, professional women groups, scientists, and Govt.
Officials.
 In 2002, she visited United Kingdom and held meetings at the Schumacher Center for
Technology & Development (ITDG); Intermediate Technology Consultants; Resurgence and
Center for Alternative Technology and shared the work and mission of Center of Science for
villages. She also contributed to the ‘Enriching Rural India – Success Stories’ program of Habitat
World.

Dr. Gupta’s work in Magan Sangrahalaya has constantly been acclaimed by her peer group and various
national and international organizations. Some of the awards include:

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  1999, "Bhatt Award" for contribution to the cause of Rural Women.
 2002 , National Award for Women’s Development through Application of Science and
Technology by Science & Society Division of Dept. of Science & Technology, New Delhi,
Government of India.
 2002, Award for Science and Technology Rural Development-2002 for contribution to women’s
empowerment at the grass root level through development of appropriate technology packages for
rural women, by Gandhigram Rural University, Tamilnadu.
 2003, Ashoka Fellowship from Ashoka Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs and Innovators for
the Public, USA.
 2005, Peace Award by Gandhi Memorial Center, Washington, USA .
 2007, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development Award 2006 by Indian Merchant
Chambers, Mumbai.
 The Indian Merchant Chamber on International Women’s Day 2007 included Vibha Gupta in the
list of Management Gurus of Rural India. (Grass Root Divas).
Publications:
 Gandhi Hut Revolution & After (1987)
 Compendium of Technology for Rural Women Vol. I, II & III (1980,90,96)
 Building Dreams in Mud: Low Cost Housing & Sanitation (1998)
 Rural Women Technology Training Manual (2000, pp 355)
 Mahilaon Ki Sthiti- Rajasthan & Gujarat (2001, Hindi-pp.117)
 Science for Villages – Monthly bulletin of Center of Science of Villages (1977-1999).
 Gram Vigyan-Wall-paper on rural technology of CSV (1986-1990).
 Appropriate Technology for Drudgery Reduction for Women (2002)
 Rain Water Harvesting (pp 128-To be printed)
 Compendium of CSV Technologies (pp 400-To be printed)
Vibha Gupta assisted in making of the following documentary films (Video)
 Building Dreams in Mud (Rural Housing)
 Inverting the Pyramid (Rural Sanitation)
 Soil to the Sun (Appropriate Technologies developed by CSV)
 Marching ahead (CSV at work)
 Paper without cutting trees (Hand made paper)
 Ayee Ayee Nai Sinchai (Clay emitter Irrigation)
 Jangal Me Mangal (Land cover Management)
 Mahila Vigyan (Women Technology) (in the making)
At present she holds the following membership in relevant organizations:
 Member, Central Khadi Village & Industries Board, Govt. of India
 Member, expert committee, Women Science & Technology, Department of Science &
Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi.

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 Member of executive committee and general body , Council of Advancement of Peoples
Participation and Rural Technology (CAPART), Ministry of Rural Development, New Delhi.
 Ashoka Fellow, Ashoka Innovators for the Public, Washington, USA
 Member, India International Centre, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi
 Member, Sewagram Ashram Pratsthan (Gandhi Ashram) Sewagram.
 Member, Governing Body, Centre of Science for Villages, Wardha, MS
 Executive Member of following Gandhian Organizations: Gramoday Sangh, Bhadravati,
Chandrapur, Maharashtra; Sarvoday Shikshan Samiti, Indore, Madhya Pradesh; Sarva Seva
Sangh (Apex body of Sarvodaya); Nai Talim Sangh (Basic Education), Sewagram; Mahila
Shiksha Mandal (Women Education), Wardha; Maharogi Seva Samiti (Leprosy), Wardha
 Senate Member, Gandhigram Rural University, Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu.
 Member, Third World Organization for Women in Science, USA
 Member, International Institute of Social Studies, Den Haag, Netherlands
 Member, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization, Wardha.
 Member, TOWS – Third World Women Scientist, USA.
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