With every step and all its decisions, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) continues to make the country proud.
The marketing arm of ISRO, Antrix Corporation Limited has decided to adopt the drought-hit Brahmasandra village in Sira taluk of Tumakuru district, Karnataka. Furthermore, the organization aims at improving the quality of life of farmers there.
The initiative has been taken up as a part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of Antrix. Also, the company will collaborate with Bharatiya Agro-Industries Foundation (BAIF) to execute the project.
For a period of five years, a budget of Rs. 3.81 crore has been earmarked.
Muzrai, T.B. Jayachandra, Karnataka’s Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs, Animal Husbandry told that as the highest number of farmer suicides have been reported from Sira taluk over the past two years, this village has been selected for the project.
Resolving the issues
Out of 1,420, 356 households in the village are engaged primarily in agriculture. The programme aims to make agriculture a profitable occupation. The programme will create a sustainable model village having smart infrastructure, assets, hi-tech skills, market linkages, and support services.
The project will employ modern methods of farming for the betterment of agricultural productivity in the village. Also, the company will form a village development committee for sustaining the momentum even after the five-year-long duration of the project.
The different water-related issues will also be resolved by the programme. The list of issues to be resolved includes scarcity of potable drinking water due to high levels of fluoride, improper drainage, poor solid waste management and sanitation facilities, and groundwater depletion.
Dr. B.K. Ranganath, Director (CSR), Antrix Corporation Limited, ISRO, Bengaluru told, “We selected the perennial drought-hit village, Brahmasandra, to implement watershed development, tank rejuvenation and rainwater harvesting for drinking water, the construction of farm ponds to increase the groundwater table, and also to train farmers to use modern tools and advanced technology in agriculture.”
Antrix also aims to help in making the village open-defecation free by constructing toilets.
