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Sunday, Jan 06, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Focus on knowledge dissemination: Nair

Staff Reporter

ISRO Chairman delivers keynote address at Science Congress plenary

Madhavan Nair

VISAKHAPATNAM: The space technology that saw its inception four decades ago in a small building in Thiruvanthapuram is not only self reliant today but is tuning itself for holistic societal development, said Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) G. Madhavan Nair in his keynote address at a plenary session on space technology for knowledge dissemination at the ongoing 95th Indian Science Congress in Andhra University. He said apart from talking of rockets and outer space the technology had its presence in many fields like education, agriculture, health care, hygiene and disaster management. “A major thrust is being put on education and knowledge dissemination,” he said.

Initiatives

Giving a brief of its societal initiatives he said, “Under Edusat programme, we have established 46 networks and operate 2,600 interactive classrooms. There is also a special network for the visually challenged students. Under tele-medicine programme, we have 258 hospitals under the network, we have connected 207 remote districts to 43 super speciality hospitals, we have eight mobile units and over 4.5 lakh patients get benefited through this programme. The Village Resource Centres have created to address the needs of the farmers. But still a lot needs to be done, as over one lakh villages in the country do not have any means of connectivity.”

On the projects on hand Dr. Nair said the focus was on creating a multi-tier database system, integrated space technology application, launching of radar imaging satellites to predict the onset of droughts and water logging and designing of newer launch vehicle system to carry heavier payload.

ISRO has plans to launch a second mission to moon. “This satellite will be circling the moon to send data about its terrain, surface features and mineral contents. We are also working on an orbiting astronomical platform.”

Former Chairman of ISRO U.R. Rao, who moderated the discussion, said knowledge dissemination is important for development. “We are talking of ‘evergreen’ concept in agriculture when our green revolution itself led to increase of salinity in the soil. Dissemination of correct knowledge is the only solution for overcoming such problems.”

A. Bhaskarnarayan from ISRO, Bangalore, in his presentation said we need 30,000 teachers with Ph.Ds, 45,000 M. tech graduates to suffice teaching needs. “In such a scenario the distance and interactive mode of Edusat would play a vital role. It is designed to reach the masses, war and wide,” he said.

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