Resource Management & Consumer Science

• Art and Interior Decoration Laboratory
• Training and Production Laboratory
• Household Equipment Laboratory
• Ergonomics Laboratory
• Vocational Laboratory

• Ergonomics & Safety Principles
• Women Empowerment & Gender Studies
• Environment & Resource Management
• Traditional Art & Craft
• Consumerism
• Resource Management & Energy Conservation

• The department has signed an MoU with M.S. University, Baroda for collaborative teaching and research activities (2025).

• Dr. Divya Singh (PI) and Dr. Shefali Massey (Co-PI) — Project awarded on “Drudgery reduction in sericulture, silk waste utilization and product diversification for empowering ST communities” (2023–2024). Funding Agency: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi-110012. Total Budget: Rs. 38.5 lakhs.
• Dr. Chhaya Shukla (PI) and Dr. Sandhya Rani (Co-PI) — Project entitled “Merging Traditional Skills of Aipan with Sustainability and Community-Welfare of Scheduled Caste of Uttarakhand,” funded by ICAR under the SC Sub-Plan. Sanction No. VC/PTC/6607, dated March 22, 2023; sanctioned amount: Rs. 10.00 lakh (2023–24).
• Dr. Chhaya Shukla (PI) and Dr. Sandhya Rani (Co-PI) — Project entitled “Co-creating Platform of, for & by Tribal Youth in Uttarakhand: Addressing Distressed Outmigration of Tribal Youth in Hilly Regions of Uttarakhand” by ICAR under the Tribal Sub-Plan (No. VC/PTC/6902 dated November 03, 2025; amount Rs. 11 lakh) (2025–26).

Assessment of Climate Vulnerability and Gendered Drudgery in Agro-Ecological Zones 9 and 14 of Uttarakhand. Women are more likely to be impacted by the effects of climate change as they are more involved in agriculture than men, particularly in Uttarakhand. Climate change is endangering the livelihood security of the rural population as well as agricultural productivity. The study assessed vulnerability to climate change in the Tarai and Bhabar regions, covering Nainital, Almora, U.S. Nagar and Haridwar districts, with 240 samples across selected villages. A Vulnerability Index was developed with seven components—Socio-Demographic Profile, Livelihood Strategies, Social Networks, Health, Food, Water, and Natural Disasters & Climate Variability—analysed through exposure, adaptive capacity and sensitivity. The Vulnerability Index was highest in Nainital and Almora. Women predominantly engaged in weeding, transplanting, sorting and storage, with high drudgery during transplanting and weeding. The Vegetable transplanter, Pant vegetable plucker, Finger plucker and Weeder-cum-kuthala tools significantly reduced drudgery, improved posture, increased efficiency and had high acceptance; all tools were found economically beneficial, socially acceptable and physiologically effective.

Ergonomic Evaluation of Occupational Risks and Discomfort Prevalent Among Gardeners. The study assessed the socioeconomic profile, occupational health risks and postural discomfort prevalent among gardeners engaged in physically demanding and repetitive tasks such as weeding, rose budding, soil preparation, seed separation, cutting, pruning and trimming, lawn maintenance, marking, landscaping and bouquet formation. Occupational health problems such as cuts, bruises, friction blisters, insect bites and tool injuries were commonly reported. Postural assessment of 15 selected activities using OWAS, WERA and WRAP tools revealed that the majority of adopted postures required immediate corrective measures. Based on the observations, a dethorning tool was designed and developed as an ergonomic intervention; its field evaluation demonstrated it to be a better alternative to the traditional method, reducing discomfort and minimizing injury risk.

Occupational Health and Intervention for Women Workers Involved in Kauna Handicraft. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a widespread occupational health concern in the informal handicraft sector. This study examined the ergonomic risks and health challenges of women artisans engaged in Kauna grass handicraft production in Manipur. In Phase I, a baseline assessment of 160 female artisans was conducted using NORDIC and Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires (CMDQ), REBA, RULA, the Moore-Garg Strain Index and NIOSH workstation analysis, indicating a high prevalence of WMSDs with severe discomfort in the shoulders (88.13%), neck (88.75%) and back (75.62%). A participatory ergonomic intervention—an adjustable L-shaped workstation with supportive seating—was developed and tested with 30 workers. Phase II showed substantial improvements: elimination of high and very-high-risk REBA categories, significant decline in discomfort, and reduction of hazardous task classifications, demonstrating an effective, low-cost and culturally appropriate model for improving occupational health and sustaining livelihoods.

Work-Life Balance Among Police Personnel in the Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand. Using a descriptive research design, the study analysed interactions among Work-Life Balance, Psychological Well-Being, Emotional Intelligence, Occupational Stress, Job Content, Work Engagement, Recovery Experience, Life Satisfaction, Job Performance and Organizational Commitment. Data were collected from 516 police personnel from Almora, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital using validated scales. Findings revealed prolonged working hours, high occupational stress and limited access to supportive workplace policies. The study proposed practical solutions including an e-folder with WLB tips, a booklet on workplace well-being and performance, and an innovative chair design to improve seating comfort in police stations, aiming to enhance productivity, reduce stress and foster resilience within law-enforcement organizations.

Exploring the Potential of Hempcrete as a Lightweight Infill Building Material. The research investigated the potential of hempcrete as a lightweight in-fill building material using the wet-mix method. Different brick/cube combinations were formulated using four criteria. Weight density tests of base-mix cube specimens (HC30 to HC50) showed values from 516 kg/m³ to 667.50 kg/m³ over 28 to 112 days, confirming lightweight properties. Water absorption ranged from 81% (HC30) to 90.19% (HC50). Compressive strength varied with lime content, age, compaction and water content, with HC30 showing the highest strength, improving over time for all specimens. The study proposes alternative binders such as fly ash, broken-brick fine aggregates and a sand-cement combination, and recommends future investigation of different hemp-shiv sizes—positioning hempcrete as a competitive, sustainable option compared to traditional burnt clay bricks.

AICRP on Women in Agriculture — Ongoing Work in Uttarakhand. The All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Women in Agriculture works to improve livelihood security, occupational health and socio-economic status of farm women through research, technology assessment, capacity building and extension. Major ongoing areas include drudgery reduction through gender-friendly farm tools and equipment (lightweight weeders, improved sickles, maize shellers, hand-operated threshers, grain pickers, revolving stools, fodder-collection and water-carrying aids), ergonomic evaluation of agricultural operations using RULA, REBA, OWAS and physiological measurements, capacity building and skill development, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, livestock-based livelihoods, documentation of women’s participation and decision-making, climate-resilient farming, income enhancement through value addition and rural entrepreneurship, technology assessment under farmers’ field conditions, and institutional convergence with KVKs, line departments, NGOs, SHGs and Panchayati Raj Institutions.

The Fun Factory: Summer Camp 2.0. The Department organized “The Fun Factory: Summer Camp 2.0” from 11–19 May 2026 under the Student Ready Programme course HRM-495: Event and Décor Management. The camp was organized by final-year students under the guidance of Dr. Seema Kwatra (HoD, RMCS), Mr. T.A. Khastgir, Dr. Divya Singh and Dr. Sandhya Rani. Designed for children aged 4–12 years, it focused on holistic development through art and craft, games, interactive learning, teamwork, creativity-based activities and skill development, providing an enriching experience for children and valuable hands-on event-management experience to the students.

Inkspire: The Calligraphy Competition & Stroke and Style: T-Shirt Painting Competition. As part of the course requirements of HRM-495: Event and Décor Management, final-year B.Sc. (Hons.) Community Science students organized live events under the guidance of Dr. Seema Kwatra (HoD, RMCS), Mr. T.A. Khastgir, Dr. Divya Singh and Dr. Sandhya Rani. “Inkspire” (for school students) encouraged creativity, concentration, handwriting skills and artistic expression, while “Stroke and Style” (for students from various colleges of GBPUA&T) offered T-shirt painting. The events enhanced fine motor skills, cognitive focus, creativity and self-expression, and gave student organizers hands-on experience in planning, registration, publicity, venue management, coordination, judging and execution.

Two-Day Training Program on Millets. A two-day training program titled “Millets for Improving Food and Nutrition Security among Maternal and Adolescent Populations” was organized at the College of Community Science by the AICRP on Women in Agriculture (AICRP–WIA). It was inaugurated by Dr. Alka Goel, Dean, in the presence of Dr. Manisha Gahlot, Unit Coordinator, and Dr. Seema Kwatra, Principal Investigator, Shree Anna Program. Day one sensitized women about the nutritional importance of millets with a live millet-based cake demonstration; day two focused on adolescent girls with a ragi chocolate demonstration and storytelling sessions. The program was conducted by Dr. Sangya Singh and Bhabya (Young Professionals) under AICRP–WIA.

Five-Day Skill Development Training, Haldi Village, Khatima. A five-day skill development training programme was organized at Haldi Village, Khatima, from 2–6 February 2026 to enhance livelihood opportunities and promote economic self-reliance among rural women farmers. Three days were dedicated to tailoring (basic stitching, sewing-machine operation, measurements, fabric cutting and simple garment construction) and two days to beautician services (personal hygiene, basic skin and hair care, facials and threading). About 35–40 women farmers participated, gaining marketable skills and confidence for self-employment.

Mega Event on Skill Development and Drudgery Reduction. A mega event on Skill Development and Drudgery Reduction was organized on 20 February 2026 to promote livelihood skills, spread awareness of government welfare schemes and introduce drudgery-reducing technologies for women farmers. Dr. Alka Goel, Dean, was the chief guest; Dr. Deepa Vinay, Registrar, spoke on drudgery reduction and improved hand tools. Hands-on training in mushroom cultivation was demonstrated by Dr. Nirmala Bhatt, and drudgery-reducing tool kits were distributed. The event was coordinated by Dr. Manisha Gahlot, Dr. Seema Kwatra and the AICRP–WIA team.

Five-Day Skill Development Training, Gadarpur. A five-day skill development training programme was organized at Gadarpur from 16–20 February 2026 to strengthen livelihood options and promote self-reliance among rural women. Structured similarly to the Haldi Village training, it comprised three days of tailoring and two days of beautician training. Approximately 35 women participated enthusiastically, acquiring marketable skills to explore self-employment and small-scale entrepreneurship.

• A Workshop on "FIRST AID” under the course HRM 495 Event and Decor Management was organized by the fourth year students of Family Resource Management Department, College of Home Science G.B.P.U.A&T Pantnagar on 8-9 May under the guidance of Dr. Chhaya Shukla, Dr. Deepa Vinay, Director, Placement and Counseling was present as the chief guest. The purpose of the event was to acquaint the students with basic knowledge and application of first aid and to give information on the importance and need of first aid. Along with this, practical information about event management was also provided to the students.
• Organizing First Aid Workshop under Student Ready Programme Course
• A Workshop on "BANKING AND CYBER CRIME" was organized on 20 May under the guidance of Dr. Chhaya Shukla course incharge HRM 495 Event and Decor Management. This programme was organized by fourth year students of Department of Family Resource Management College of Home Science G.B.P.U.A&T Pantnagar. Dr. Anuradha dutta was the chief guest of the event. Mrs Shefali Roonwal branch head and Mr.Prakash Chandra pant Chief manager SBI were the expert of this programme. The purpose of the event was to acquaint the students with basic knowledge and awareness on cyber crime and fraud faced by the customer. Along with this, banking information like credit card, mutual fund, insurance etc. were also given.
• A workshop on Orientation to ILES was organized on 25/5/2022 by the fourth year students of deptt. of Family Resource Management, Home Science College of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, under Student Ready Program. Dr. Chhaya Shukla course In -charge HRM 495 Event and Decor Management was the coordinator of this event. Its objective was to provide the students with detailed information about the International English Language Testing System. This program was mainly organized for those students who want to go to countries outside India like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and USA etc. for higher education. The keynote speaker of the event was Mr. Amar, Marketing Officer of SEMA Overseas Rudrapur. Giving detailed information about the English Language Testing System to the students wishing to pursue higher education abroad, Mr. Amar highlighted the main points related to its process, admission timings of different countries, required documents, process of applying etc. The chief guest of this program was Dr. Alka Goyal, Dean of Home Science College. Mr. Amar in his presidential address, he said that there is no substitute for hard work for excellent achievements. After setting a goal, students should work hard to achieve it. Organizing such type of workshops, from time to time, encourages the students as well as guides them properly. Apart from this in the afternoon session on the same day in informative and interactive session on communication skills was also organized. The expert for this event was Dr. V.L.V. Kameshwari, Prof., Deptt. of Ag. And Communication.
• A Summer camp entitled “Fuel the Summer” under the course HRM 495 Event and Décor Management was organized for the school children (class 3 rd to class 8 th ) by the fourth year students of Family Resource Management Department, College of Home Science G.B.P.U.A&T Pantnagar from 13-18 June 22 under the guidance of Dr. Chhaya Shukla. The activities undertaken in the summer camp were yoga classes followed by dance and art and craft classes. The purpose of organizing of this summer camp was to acquaint the students with basic knowledge of how to organize an event and application of theoretical knowledge to practical aspect. Forty two participants attended the camp. In valedictory function, the chief guest was honorable Vice Chancellor Dr A.K. Shukla accompanied by Dean, College Of Agriculture And Dean Student Welfare .Dr Alka Goel, Dean College Of Home Science in her address blessed and appreciated their commendable effort made by the student and the course Incharge Dr. Chhaya Shukla, Dr. Shehnaz Jahan Dr. Anuradha Dutta, Dr.Seema Kwatra, Dr. Anupama Pandey, Mr. T. Abhik Khastgir, Dr. Suneeta Sharma, Dr. Divya Singh, Dr. Sandhya Rani and Dr. Shifali Masseyand other faculty member graced the occasion.
• Organizing Summer Camp under Student Ready Programme Course
• During the Amrit Mahotsav period of independence, a seven-day training program was organized on the topic "Entrepreneurial Skill Enhancement Techniques for Economic Empowerment" from 23-29 August 2022 by the college of Home Science, Govind Ballabh Pant Agricultural and Technological University, Pantnagar under Sub SC plan sponsored by ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NIAP), DPS Marg, New Delhi-110012. Through this training program, the trainees acquire the necessary skills for making value added products like file cover, memento, other decoration items by aipan art; paper jewelery by quilling technique; dupatta, cushion cover, stool cover and other textile decorative items by tie and dye technique. Practical knowledge and experience of various techniques for product development were provided. This program also provides the information about financial provisions for doing their own work along with entrepreneurial approach and practical understanding for the economic empowerment of women and girls.
• Capacity building training organized on entrepreneurial skills

• > Students associated with industries/NGOs in inplant training and research work
• (i) Agencies/organization associated with PG research work
• Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee.
• IIT, Roorkee.
• Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal.
• USA Department of Health and Human Service, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Columbia Ohio U.S.A.
• (ii) University Industry Collaboration
• M/S Bajaj Auto Ltd, Pantnagar
• Ashok Leyland, Pantnagar
• KLA India Public Ltd. Rudrapur
• Titan India Ltd, SIDCUL, Pantnagar
• Guru Nanak flour mill Kichcha
• Godrej and Boyce Limited, Bombay.
• (iii) Outside university linkages
• Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University USA.
• SNDT Bombay, Mumbai.
• (iv) Linkage with NGO’s
• IIRD Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
• Chirag, Bhimtal.
• NFFORAM, India.
• Shivashakti, Lohaghat.
• Sewak, Haldwani.
• Swayam Sewa Samiti, Uttaranchal.
• (v) Consultancy projects awarded from Bajaj Auto Ltd. Pantnagar
• Physical fitness test (2013, 2014)
• Psychometric test (2014, 2016)
• Departmental activities
• (i) Student tours:
• An educational Tour of Ph.D students of FRM department was planned on 03rd January 2018 to Muradabad under the course No. HRM-761 Occupational Ergonomics. An Educational Tour of IIIrd and IVth Year Vocational Elective Students was planned on 24th March 2018 to Rudrapur under the Courses No. HRM-426, Management of Floor and Floor Coverings, HRM-431 Fittings & Fixtures, HRM-428 Interior Design Project Management and HRM-433 Professional Practices. The objective of taking this tour was to give exposure to the students about various new products related with interior, furniture and furnishing materials through market surveys.
• (ii) Exhibitions and professional shows and activities:
• An Annual Exhibition “Darshana 2018” was organized by Vocational Students of FRM on 3rd and 4th May 2018 under the guidance of Mr. T.A. Khastgir (Incharge), Dr. Divya Singh, Assistant Professor, and Ms. Sandhya Rani, Assistant Professor. The objective of organizing the exhibition was to showcase the work done by the students and to arouse a general aesthetic taste among the students of other colleges, schools and campus residents of the university, so that a general public can be benefited by the exhibition.
• Participation in conference/seminars/workshops
• Dr. Deepa Vinay, Dr. Seema Kwatra and Dr. Suneeta Sharma Attended National Conference On “Hill Agriculture In Perspective HAP-2016 to be held at GBPUA&T, Pantnagar during February 26-28, 2016.
• Dr. Seema Kwatra attended XXI Biennial Workshop of AICRP on Home Science held at PJTSAU, Telangana from 13-14 February 2015
• Dr. Promila Sharma attended International Conference on Research and Innovation in Engineering (ICRIE) at Delhi NCR, India from 12-13 February 2016.
• Dr. Promila Sharma attended a 66th National Conference of Indian Association of Occupational Health OCCUCON 2016 from 18 -20 February 2016, at NIMHANS, Bangalore.
• Dr. Chhaya Shukla, Associate Professor of Family Resource Management delivered lecture on skill enhancement on paper mache on 30 march 2022` in a training programme on Capacity Building for skill Development among SC women of Uttarakhand organized by College of Home Science, GBPUA&T Pantnagar.
• Vats Aditi vats participated as a resource person and given lecture on ‘Quilling Technique For Jewellery Making’ in training on “Capacity Building for Skill Development” among SC women of Uttarakhand Organized by Department of CT & FRM, Sponsored by ICAR – NIAP New Delhi Aug. 23 – 29, 2022.
• Aditi Vats participated and given lecture on training under SC/ST plan to rural women Sponsored by ICAR – NIAP New Delhi March 28 – 30, 2022.