The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 102 government colleges can access EduSat programmes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

102 government colleges can access EduSat programmes

Special Correspondent

Kumaraswamy launches network to cover institutions in remote areas

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

REACHING OUT TO REMOTE AREAS: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy inaugurating EduSat Network in Bangalore on Monday. ISRO Chairman Madhavan Nair is seen.

BANGALORE: Students of 102 government first grade colleges in the State can now pursue their education through EduSat, the world’s first satellite dedicated exclusively to education by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday launched the EduSat network, aimed at imparting education and training programme in colleges located in remote areas. ISRO G. Madhavan Nair was present.

Speaking after launching the programme at the Banquet Hall of the Vidhana Soudha, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the facility would be extended to 349 government colleges in the State.

The ISRO has come forward to establish receiving centres in 102 colleges. Centres have been established in 72 colleges. Lectures in various subjects, including biotechnology and computer science, he said, would be delivered using the help of the advanced technology, he said.

The coalition Government had been promoting higher education in a big way and had scaled up budgetary allocation from Rs. 2.10 crore in 2004-05 to Rs. 96 crore in 2007-08 for construction of college buildings.

The Government has ensured a steady focus on job-oriented education as well. The Government had taken steps to provide infrastructure in the field of education, particularly in government colleges, he said.

Mr. Kumarswamy said 167 government colleges had been sanctioned in 2007-08 and 4,175 posts of lecturer.

He also launched the biometric attendance monitoring system for colleges to monitor the attendance of the enrolled students.

Conceptualised by K. Kasturirangan, former ISRO Chairman, EduSat was launched under the chairmanship of Dr. Madhavan Nair.

Distance education facility has been provided in colleges with the Department of Collegiate Education’s tie-up with ISRO and BSNL.

Bridging the gap

Dr. Madhavan Nair said education will be available at the doorsteps of students in the remote areas of the country through the EduSat. Space technology could now be harnessed to reach the “unreached” and to “bridge the divide” between rural and urban schools and colleges.

The satellite, equipped with transponders, each with a bandwidth of approximately 36 megahertz, beams lectures to classrooms in technical universities and primary schools in the country.

In Karnataka, Visvesvaraya Technological University is the most important partner for the project, and all the colleges under its umbrella have access to EduSat programmes.

These include lectures on subjects such as Strength of Materials, Mathematics, and Structural Analysis. As for primary education, nearly 900 schools in Chamarajnagar district, 800 schools in north Karnataka and 1,500 schools in and around Bangalore receive broadcasts on various subjects through the satellite, Dr. Madhavan Nair said.

The ISRO will also provide a dedicated education channel for enhancing the literacy rate in the country, he said and thanked the State Government and BSNL for their cooperation.

T.S. Kuppuswamy, Chief General Manager, BSNL, said BSNL had provided 1.25 lakh broadband connections so far and the number would be extended to 4.5 lakh in the next one year.

Public Works and Energy Minister H.D. Revanna, Chief Secretary P.B. Mahishi, Department of Collegiate Commissioner M.V. Jayanti and Director K.V. Kodandaramaiah were present.

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