The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Science can turn villages into knowledge centres'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 03, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Science can turn villages into knowledge centres'

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, MAY 2. Modern science can transform rural areas into knowledge centres that bring prosperity through profitable activities, the UNESCO Chair in Eco-technology, M. S. Swaminathan, said here today.

Delivering the Sri T. A. Ramalingam Chettiar Commemoration lecture at the T. A. Ramalingam Chettiar School auditorium, he said a national virtual academy could be formed with State open varsities, government organisations and private agencies to enable every village become a knowledge centre by 2007.

The aim was to help self-help groups remain viable by promoting the principles of economics, ecology, gender equality and social equity. Such efforts would ensure that villagers were assured of food, health, literacy and `work-for-all'.

Until now, science and technology have widened the divide between the rich and poor. The challenge lies in using science and technology to usher in economic, social and gender equity. "Bridging the digital divide will also bridge the gender divide," he said.

From `jobless growth', it was necessary to progress to `job-led growth' making appropriate use of technology, bank credit, market conditions and management practices.

Mr. Swaminathan described the concept of a `bio-village', where human development would take priority over other things. With rural people turning innovators and entrepreneurs, there would be no need to adopt a patronising approach and considering them as "beneficiaries" of welfare programmes.

He described instances of the rural poor gaining `livelihood security' by taking up micro-enterprises like mushroom production, ornamental fish culture, and production/marketing of bio-pesticides, as cottage industry.

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