Rural Smart Village Centre in Gaya Bihar | Clean Cooking Training by Finovista

1st

RuTAGe Center in Bihar

30+ Women Trained

Repair & Maintenance of eCooking Devices

9+

eCooking Devices Deployed

(RuTAGe)

The Rural Technology Action Group

The RuTAGe Smart Village Center (RSVC) is an initiative by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, designed to integrate cutting-edge technologies with the specific needs of rural communities and serves as a bridge between rural needs and scientific and technological expertise available in academic and research institutions. The primary goal is to enhance the quality of life, improve livelihoods and empower communities through sustainable, technology-driven solutions. RSVC in Gaya, Bihar, is transforming rural communities through innovative clean cooking solutions and sustainable energy technologies. The clean cooking sector aligns closely with the RSVC’s mandate, as it addresses critical rural and peri-urban challenges related to energy
access, health and livelihood security. Traditional cooking methods relying on biomass or inefficient fuels contribute to high exposure to household air pollution and limit productivity, particularly for women entrepreneurs and small vendors. Through initiatives promoting electric and other clean cooking technologies, the RuTAGe framework supports the development, demonstration and dissemination of context-specific cooking solutions that are affordable, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable.

Inauguration of RuTAGe Smart Village Center (RSVC) Dobhi, Gaya, Bihar

A Milestone in Rural Innovation and Clean Energy for Bihar

The RuTAGe Smart Village Center (RSVC) was officially inaugurated on September 2, 2025, in Dobhi Block, Gaya, Bihar by Finovista in partnership with JWiRES and JEEViKA marking a significant milestone in advancing rural innovation and sustainable livelihood opportunities in the state. The event was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Mr. Vimal Kumar, Director & Co-Founder, Finovista, Delhi; Mr. Ajay Sahu, General Manager, NABARD Patna; Mr. Uday Kumar, Assistant General Manager, NABARD Gaya; Mr. Ganesh Kumar, Consultant, JEEViKA Patna; Mr. Ankur Chaudhary, Young Professional.

The PSA’s RuTAG programme provides the underlying context for this center, which is dedicated to technology-led rural empowerment, clean energy transitions and sustainable livelihoods. RuTAG (Rural Technology Action Group). RuTAG’s objective is to develop and disseminate appropriate technologies that directly address the unique challenges faced by rural communities—especially concerning efficiency, productivity, drudgery reduction and livelihood enhancement.

The RSVC in Dobhi stands out with its emphasis on introducing clean energy technologies for rural households, particularly energy-efficient electric cooking solutions. This move aligns perfectly with RuTAG’s priorities of delivering greener, more sustainable alternatives to traditional fuels, thereby improving health outcomes, reducing energy costs and accelerating environmental stewardship in villages. The focus on energy-efficient electric cooking technologies addresses health, safety and efficiency gaps for rural women and families, while the center’s training and entrepreneurship programs extend market linkages and financial inclusion. As the first RSVC in Bihar, Dobhi’s center serves as a template for replication, promising to scale transformative models across the state for sustainable and inclusive rural development.

Finovista as a Corporate partner plays a crucial role in translating RuTAG’s innovations to ground-level impact, driving adoption and supporting rural MSMEs, self-help groups and youth. The RSVC model centre, as a permanent panchayat-level hub, brings together technology dissemination, livelihood promotion and training under one umbrella.