Topic of the Day - Village Resource Centres (VRC)

UPSC Exam Preparation: Topic of the Day – Village Resource Centres (VRC)

Village Resource Centres provide space-based services in the rural areas. They are one of the unique initiatives that use Satellite Communication (SATCOM) network and Earth Observation (EO) satellite data to reach out to the villages to address the needs of the local people in villages themselves.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched GSAT-29 communication satellite carried by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mk III) into space. The launch took place at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

1. The satellite is aimed at solving the communication barriers of Village Resource Centres (VRCs), which enable space-based services to ISRO from rural areas.
2. Weighing at 3,423 kg (just over 3.4 tonnes), the GSAT-29 is a communication satellite designed for a mission life of 10 years. It will also serve as a testbed for new technologies in communications.

This article would be beneficial for candidates preparing for the IAS Exam.

Applications of Village Resource Centres:

A wide variety of services are provided by the Village Resource Centres in the rural areas:

• Tele-medicine concept connects the sick people in villages, to the doctors, who located in cities/urban areas or the Super-speciality hospitals through Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network, for providing health services.
• Tele-education uses Satellite Communications (SATCOM) to provide a virtual classroom facility to far-flung villages or remote areas in the country that helps in imparting education to the needy.
• Advisories related to agriculture like crop pest and diseases, fertilizer/pesticides, organic farming, crop insurance etc.; livestock/poultry, career guidance to rural students.
• It helps in skill development and imparting vocational training to the rural population. Other areas of application include Panchayat planning, Weather information, Marketing information, Watershed Development, Drinking water etc.

Importance of Village Resource Centres:

• The peaceful use of satellite technology for the development of rural areas is demonstrated with the use of Village Resource Centres.
• The Village Resource Centres have conducted over 6500 programmes so far, addressing the areas like, Agriculture/horticulture development; Fisheries development; Livestock development; Water resources; Tele health care; Awareness programmes; Woman’s empowerment; Supplementary education; Computer literacy; Micro credit; Microfinance; Skill development / vocational training for livelihood support etc.
• VRCs essentially have: digital connectivity (for videoconferencing and information transfer) with knowledge centres and specialty healthcare providers enabled via INSAT; spatial information on natural resources generated using IRS data; a host of information pertaining to the management of natural resources and socio-economic relevance; and facilities for primary healthcare services and distance education.
• With the involvement of stakeholders, VRCs will catalyze rural entrepreneurship; and facilitate e-Governance and other services of social relevance.

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In association with selected NGOs, Trusts and State Government Departments, the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO has established around 473 Village Resource Centres (VRCs) on a pilot basis. However, there is a need to upscale the VRCs and link all the village Panchayats. This will help in efficient exploitation of the available resources at the villages and also reduce distress migration from villages due to lack of basic health, education and information asymmetry.

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