To demonstrate the potential of satellite technology for development of rural areas, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has so far set up 456 Village Resource Centres (VRCs), on a pilot scale, in association with selected NGOs, Trusts and State Government Departments. The number of VRCs set up, state/Union Territory wise are as follows:
Andhra Pradesh (17); Assam (13); Bihar (19); Delhi (2); Gujarat (10); Jharkhand (26); Himachal Pradesh (30); Karnataka (58); Kerala (21); Madhya Pradesh (24); Maharashtra (18); Meghalaya (1); Nagaland (8); Orissa (44); Puducherry (9); Rajasthan (21); Sikkim (19); Tamil Nadu (54); Uttarakhand (18); Uttar Pradesh (30); West Bengal (10) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (4).
Village Resource Centres have provided various space technology enabled services such as tele-healthcare, tele-education, natural resources information etc.. The major benefits of the VRC programme include advisories related to agriculture like crop pest and diseases, fertilizer/pesticides, organic farming, crop insurance etc.; live stock/poultry, career guidance to rural students, skill development and vocational training etc., to the rural population.
Establishing new VRCs is an ongoing process and the same is carried out based on communication technology needs, funds available, proposals received from State Governments/NGOs etc.
The parameters for selecting NGOs and Trusts as partners in VRC include experience in community organisation and social work, availability of required infrastructure for housing the VRC facility, requisite manpower for day-to-day operation and capacity for conducting programmes of relevance for the development of rural areas.
Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prim Minister’s Office Shri V.Narayansamy gave this information in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today.