Technology & Action for Rural Advancement- TARA

Technology becomes meaningful when it solves real problems for real people.

From cleaner construction and waste-to-energy solutions to safe drinking water and community-led enterprises, TARA technologies have worked towards building a future that is sustainable, practical, and inclusive.

This hashtag , we celebrate innovations that reduce waste, conserve resources, strengthen livelihoods, and create climate resilience.

Because simple solutions can address complex climate challenges.

The Brainstorming Workshop on Decarbonising the Indian Brick Industry came to a close after a day of unpacking what is actually holding the sector back.

Across sessions, the shift from FCBTK to zigzag was acknowledged as underway, but the real bottlenecks lie beyond technology: fuel choices, resource efficiency, and system readiness.

The fireside chat brought this into sharper focus. Conversations pointed to a clear gap between what we know and what we act on:

-Limited and fragmented data on emissions and production realities

-Low pe*******on of improved technologies despite years of availability

-Persistent perception barriers around low-carbon materials

-And the absence of clear, actionable, sector-specific roadmaps

There was also a strong call to move beyond intent, towards better data systems, stronger local institutional capacity, and market-shaping interventions that can actually drive adoption.

The day concluded with the felicitation of speakers and thematic leads, bringing the workshop to a close.

We thank all our partners, speakers, and participants for contributing to a conversation that stayed grounded, candid, and solution oriented.

If the discussions made one thing clear, it is this: the transition will depend on how quickly we move from pilots and ideas to implementation at scale.

As discussions deepen at the "Brainstorming Workshop on Decarbonising the Indian Brick Industry", some clear and actionable directions are emerging:

One of the most agreed-upon shifts is the move from FCBTK to zig-zag technology. While the direction is clear, the bigger question is what follows, resource optimisation, fuel transitions, and system readiness will determine how far this shift can go.

A particularly strong insight from the finance and market discussions was that material substitution is not just a decarbonisation lever, but a socio-economic one, with the potential to drive local jobs and economic resilience.

At the same time, a critical barrier persists: the “pakka” perception gap. The challenge is less about technology and more about trust, awareness, and market acceptance. There is also a growing push to build a finance-led ecosystem, one that moves beyond pilots to create proof of scale, using tools like blended finance, microfinance, carbon credits, and targeted incentives to unlock adoption.

From a policy perspective, a key concern remains the informality of the sector, which limits regulatory reach, access to finance, and data visibility. Strengthening data systems through GST, MSME, and SPCB linkages, along with mandatory technology shifts, fuel regulations, and stronger local enforcement, emerged as critical priorities.

The social discussions brought forward equally important realities. Low awareness of schemes, limited portability of benefits, and gaps in technical literacy continue to affect workers. As the sector transitions, there is a clear need to invest in upskilling, formal training pathways, and better communication on risks such as heat stress.

Across sessions, one message is clear:
the transition will not be driven by technology alone, it will depend on aligning markets, finance, policy, and people.

More insights to follow. Watch this space.

The inaugural session at the "Brainstorming Workshop on Decarbonising the Indian Brick Industry" set the tone for the day, highlighting both the urgency and complexity of the transition.

Opening the workshop, Shrashtant Patara, Chief Executive, DA, emphasised that transforming the sector will require innovation and collaboration at scale, while recognising that the conversation must go beyond emissions, as livelihoods are equally critical.

Dr. Bhaskar Natarajan, Clean Energy Specialist, highlighted the centrality of the sector and a key paradox, while technologies have evolved over the past two decades, adoption has remained slow. He pointed to the role of fly ash and the need to better align market acceptance with policy direction.

Dr. Ashok Khosla, Chairman, Development Alternatives Group, drew attention to the hidden costs of traditional brick production, spanning climate, resource depletion, and informal labour, and noted that the current linear model is under strain, requiring systemic shifts across technology, markets, and regulation.

Across the inaugural, one message stood out clearly:
𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐧𝐞.

More updates to follow from the thematic sessions.

: The Brainstorming Workshop on "Decarbonising the Indian Brick Industry: Strategies & Pathways" is currently underway at DA Headquarters, in Delhi.

The workshop brings together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners to collectively explore pathways for a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and inclusive brick sector.

The day will see focused discussions across technology, finance & market systems, policy frameworks, and a just transition, setting the stage for actionable solutions.

More updates to follow from the thematic sessions, stay tuned!

Meet our speakers!

As part of the Brainstorming Workshop on “Decarbonising the Indian Brick Industry: Strategies and Pathways,” we are pleased to welcome distinguished voices to our thematic sessions.

For the session on Social Issues, we have Laoise Ni Bhriain from the University of Nottingham, who will bring perspectives on inclusive and just transitions.

The Policy session will feature Bhaskar Natarajan, sharing insights on enabling policy frameworks to support sector-wide transformation.

In the Finance & Market session, Shrikant Budholia from Xynteo will offer insights on enabling adoption and demand for low-carbon building materials.

Their contributions will help shape conversations that are not only climate-focused, but also equitable and grounded in on-ground realities.

We look forward to engaging discussions and meaningful exchange.

See you on 20th April 2026 at Development Alternatives Headquarters!

5 Days to Go!

We’re just five days away from the 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺: 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴.

From technology and finance to market systems, policy, and worker welfare, the workshop will bring together diverse stakeholders to shape practical pathways for a low-carbon and inclusive brick sector.

Date: 20 April 2026
Venue: Development Alternatives Headquarters, Delhi

Have you registered yet? If not, click on the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHltWMF11p-glL1yF_i3PSoQY5AuZZaoB89z7M1CQ-oBc8yw/viewform

: Xynteo

Xynteo's Build Ahead joins as the 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳 for the thematic session on Enabling Adoption and Demand for Low-Carbon Building Materials, as part of the Brainstorming Workshop on 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺: 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴.

The session will focus on addressing critical barriers across access to finance, market readiness, and demand creation, with an emphasis on unlocking scalable pathways for low-carbon transition in the brick sector.

Through this collaboration, the aim is to bring in perspectives on financing mechanisms, market enablers, and systemic approaches that can accelerate adoption at scale.

20 April 2026 | Development Alternatives Headquarters, Delhi