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Address Nelli Sengupta Sarani, Kolkata - 87
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Email foset@rediffmail.com
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Phone 033 2252 9675
Forum of scientists, engineers & technologists (FOSET), started its journey in the year 1987, is presently having nearly two thousand conscious and socially committed scientists, engineers and related professionals in it’s fold directly as members and operating through 12 subcentres scattered in and around the state with its central office in Calcutta. The sub-centres are located at North Bengal (Siliguri) Bankura, Barrackpore, Howrah (B.E. College), Kharagpur (IIT), Haldia, Kolaghat, Durgapur, Suri, Hooghly, Jalpaiguri, Jadavpur and attempts are being made to open sub-centres at Santaldih, Kalyani, Raigunj etc.
FOSET is closely linked with fraternal organisations of Professionals and Service Associations, All India Peoples’ Science Network (AIPSN), Department of Science and Technology, both in Central and State Govt. Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Resources – Govt. of India, Dept. of Rural & Urban Development, HUDCO, TATA Dorabji Trust, WBREDA etc.
FOSET has taken an active interest in rejuvenating the industrial and economic scenario of West Bengal and economic scenario of West Bengal and assisted Departments of Power, Technical Education, Science & Technology, Cottage & Small Scale Industries, Transport, Municipal Affairs, Housing, Urban Development, Panchayat Administration, Food Processing and WBREDA etc. in various Government Committees. It has been awarded with “Best Performance in promoting Cost Effective Construction Technology in India in 2000” by Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India and HUDCO, “Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Award” in 2006 by Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, Govt. of India and “Meghnad Puroshkar” in 2006 by Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of West Bengal in recognition of FOSET’s contribution towards popularisation of science and technology for social development.
To highlight Social, Political & Economical implications of Science and Technology (S&T).
To focus the role status of Science & Technology (S&T) professionals to satisfy the needs of the society.
To build awareness of S&T amongst the common people.
Democratisation of the work of S&T Institutions / organisations to further creativity.
To maintain continuous vigilance on the S&T policies of the nation to analyse them meticulously for leading recommendations to appropriate authorities.
To mobilise Public opinion for effective implementation of S&T policies.
To campaign for promoting technology for rural application and Human Resource Development through training programme.
To initiate discussions on subject having socio-technical relevance like Automation, Technical Education Policies, Nuclear Policy, Conservation of Energy, Urbanisation Policy etc.
To bring together all those workings in Science, Engineering, Medical and Technological profession to have an exchange of ideas, arising out of their concrete & specific experience for the benefit of the large segment of the society.
Publication and Campaign of most essential, S&T information among the large segment of the people of our society.
In pursuance to its aims and objectives FOSET organises regular seminars/workshops to create awareness among the members as well among other professionals on various socio-technical issues. Some of the programmes are:
FOSET joined other mass organisations to protest against invasion of Iraq by Imperialist Forces
FOSET published a compilation of valuable articles in protest against attack on Iraq
FOSET participated in the World Social Forum held at Mumbai
FOSET organised series of seminars on the Indo-US Nuclear Treaty and its’ adverse effect on sovereignty of our country.
Convention of professionals against WTO was organised at Jadavpur University, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and at Kolkata in association with Association of Bank Officials and other mass organsiation.
Preparatory Meeting-cum-workshop on World Social Forum at Sarala Memorial Hall, Kolkata
Campaign Programme in favour of Secular Governance was organised at Kolkata, Siliguri, Barrackpur, Raigunj, Kolaghat, Bandel, B.E.College
Booklet on the Sell-out of the Nation (“Antarjali Jatray Bharat”) as a response to the malicious campaign titled ‘India Shining’ and ‘Feel Good’ by the earlier Central Government.
Rally of Professionals in Kolkata against aggression in Iraq
Convention of professionals against the Energy Bill 2003
Through these programmes our organisation has established a solid contact with other organisation of professionals like Association of State Government Engineers and Technical Officers, Association of Health Service Doctors, W.B. Subordinate Engineers Service Association, Paschimbanga Vigyan Mancha, All India Peoples Science Network, W.B. State Medical Representatives.
FOSET gives top priority in down-to-earth application of S&T in the form of executing projects on “Technology transfer” at pilot scale. The nature of these projects comprises development of alternative low cost options of technology, upgradation of traditional skill, linking up R&D Institutions with the common people, rural development and management information support. A few such projects are:
In close co-operation with HUDCO, FOSET initiated the Building Centre movement in West Bengal by setting up Building Centres at Birati, North 24-Parganas and Suri, Birbhum. It is successfully carrying promotional job of low cost technology in rural/urban housing development of alternative building materials and imparting training to the masons. The Birati Building Centre has also been awarded KFW Grant assistance for building up infrastructure. HUDCO has conferred “Best Performance Award” to the Building Centre in 2000.
Major Activities undertaken:
Training of Masons and Artisans.
Providing technical support to the people for building houses with innovative cost optimised technology.
Taking of Construction work for institutional Buildings on behave of Panchayets, Zillaparishad & Municipalities and other Govt. Departments / Autonomous Bodies under the Government:
1. 20 nos. houses were built with CET under Shelter for Shelterless programme at Barrackpur Municipality
2. 50 nos. houses were built at Kalchini Block, Alipurduar under Inidira Abas Yojna
3. Consultancy for construction of 80000 sq.ft. office complex of West Bengal Milk Federation at Salt Lake, Kolkata
4. 80 nos. houses were built under VAMBAY scheme at Shantipalli, Siliguri under Siliguri Municiaplity.
5. 200 nos. houses were built under VAMBAY scheme at Sukanatanagar, Siliguri under Siliguri Jalpaiguri Devpt. Agency.
6. Community Development Building of Divyya Chhaya Trust was constructed at Rajarhat – Gopalpur, North 24 Parganas
7. Office Building of area 8000 sq. ft. of WBHIDCO at Rajarhat New Town.
8. New College Building of Kalinagar Mahavidyalaya, North 24 Parganas under MPLAD Scheme
9. Extension of school building of Kasba Jagadish Vidyapith, South 24 Parganas under MPLAD Scheme
10. Construction of Bull Shed, Office-cum-Laboratory and Guest House for Paschimbanga Gosampad Bikash Sanstha at Salboni, Paschim Medinipur.
11. Construction of Office-cum-Laboratory for Paschimbanga Gosampad Bikash Sanstha at Haringhata, Nadia
12. Construction of Primary School Building at Manickchak, Malda under financial assistance of Electro Urban Cooperative Society (CESC)
13. Construction of Primary School Building at Birbhum District under DPEP Programme.
14. Providing training on CET for DPEP personnel in all districts of West Bengal
15. Providing training on CET for DPEP personnel at Shillong, Meghalaya
16. Providing training on CET for DPEP personnel at Bhubaneswar, Orissa
17. Community Development Centre of FOSET at Chhendapathar village, Ranibandh Block, Bankura.
18. Extension of Building of Wrst Bengal Veterinary Council at Belgachia, Kolkata
19. Canteen Building of Bengal Engineering and Science University, Sibpur, Howrah (under progress)
20. Ticket Counters at different Railway Stations e.g. Dhakuria, Jadavpur etc. under Eastern Railway.
21. 50 nos. Individual dwelling houses for Middle and Low Income group people at different locations of Budge Budge, Kalyani, Howrah, Barasat, Madhyamgram, Khardah, Sonarpur, Barrackpur etc.
22. Providing Training on CET at our Birati Building Centre to about 100 masons from different districts of West Bengal.
Propagating the philosophy of sustainable cost effective building technology (Including development of bamboo based construction methods)
At present 50 nos. of Residential houses with innovative technics for Middle & lower middle class people are being constructed under BBC in the Dist. of North 24-Parganas, South 24-Pgs., Howrah & Medinipore.
Undertaken R&D Project on Low Cost construction & Technology Development and demonstration on behalf of DST, GOI & FOSET.
Undertaken extensive survey on shelter upgradation on behalf of DST, GOI & FOSET.
Production of cost effective Building Materials.
Technical Assistance to the Dept. of Primary Education, GOWB for the DPEP Projects.
FOSET is providing regular consultancy to Government or Semi-Government bodies like WBHIDCO, W.B. Milk Producers Federation (under Animal Husbandry Dept.), Paschimbanga Gosampad Bikash Sanstha (under Animal Husbandry Dept.), West Bengal Veterinary Council, West Bengal University of Veterinary Sciences, Backward Class Welfare Department – Govt. of West Bengal, Department of School Education – Govt. of West Bengal. Already a no. of buildings, worksheds have been constructed using cost-effective construction technology for most of them.
FOSET has developed necessary machinery and technique of chemical treatment of bamboo for increasing life expectancy of the same and use of bamboo in structural purpose in construction of cost-effective disaster-proof buildings. Endeavour towards improvement of the process and products are going on in full swing in its R&D center at Birati.
Brass & Bell Metal:
Technologies have been developed on scientific form of moulding practice for minimising wastage of metal and to attain competitive edge, which will in turn ensure value addition to these traditional artisans.
Fishing Hook:
Upgradation of skill of Rural Blacksmiths.
Pottery:
With the same objective a project on rural pottery industry has been undertaken under the Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India and an application-oriented project is being implemented at Birati of North 24-Parganas including setting up of a workshop at Birati. An user friendly cost effective Gas-fired Kiln has been developed and ready for transfer of technology. Regular training-cum-production center is now in operation at Birati Field Station. Potters from different DRDCs of West Bengal, Tripura and Self Help Groups of Kalyani and Uttar Dinajpur have been trained. 3 nos. Advanced Pottery units at Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal and at Kalyani of Nadia District are being installed.
Bell Mala Making Machine:
FOSET extended its helping hand to mechanise the age-old laborious process of Bellmala making at Barjora Block of Bankura.
At Prithiva Gram Panchayat of Guma Village, Habra, North 24-Parganas and at Modarat Village, Baruipur, South 24-Parganas units have been set up on food processing and food preservation and nearly 180 women were trained.
Survey on Medicinal Plant and Baul Medicinal Practices at Murshidabad district under DST, GOI.
Survey on Medicinal Plant at Medinipur district under W.B.State Council for Science & Technology.
R&D Project on Vermi composting at Kolaghat, Midnapur District with the support of DST & NES, GoWB and Viswabharati University.
Cost effective methods of Jute retting to produce Golden Jute have been successfully implemented at Amdanga – North 24 Parganas District and Udaynaryanpur – Howrah District. It is now ready for technology transfer.
A project on Non-edible Oil has been approved by SSD - DST, Govt. of India.
Conducting survey for finding out solid industrial waste in selected industries and suggesting possible ways for recycling - WB Pollution control Board Project.
Conducting environmental Management Plan for Khardah Khal near Kolkata and Tumlah Nullah at Durgapur.
Observed Environment Day on 5 th June 2004 with a big seminar on “Effect of environment on Health” jointly with Association of Health Service Doctors and other fraternal organizations.
Awareness Generation Programmed under Ganga Action Plan at Bansberia, Bhadreswar, Barrackpur and Maheshtala Municipality areas have been undertaken with the help of CMDA and CMWSA.. Series of seminars, art competition, street drama etc. were organized at these localities.
Seminar/Workshop on Community Polytechnic Scheme and submission of Recommendation to Govt.
Member in Advisory Committees of the community Polytechnic Cell. Representation in Steering Committee.
Collaborative effort in running Extension Centres of Community Polytechnics.
Integrating Building Centre movement with Community Polytechnic Scheme.
Representation in different Committees under West Bengal State Council of Technical Education.
Preparation of master-plan for setting-up of I.T Kiosk at rural areas of West Bengal.
Conducting workshops at different locations on I.T.- enabled services.
Study based activities on implementation of free software in I.T related services.
Preparation of Web-based information system for West Bengal Government.
Preparation of GIS-based maps for Siliguri Mahakuma parishad.
Preparing Development Plan by People’s Participatory method at Rajnagar Block of Birbhum district.
Preparing Redevelopment plan for the Kalyani Town on behalf of Kalyani Municipality.
Study based activities on State Urban Policy for West Bengal.
Rendering assistance to different Municipalities for preparing their Plan.
Rendering assistance to Govt. of West Bengal for implementation of VAMBAY scheme.