“To realise the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s goal of doubling Farmers’ income by 2022 and reduce the carbon footprint, ONGC has committed to enable organic farming in the country”, emphasised Mr D D Misra, Director (HR) on the occasion of Bhoomi Puja of Research and Training centre of Ekalavya Foundation (Ekalavya Centre for Organic Agricultural Research and Training) popularly known as ECOART, on 26 August 2017 in Gingurti village, Tandur Mandal, Vikarabad Mandal in Telangana State on Saturday. This mandal is one of the most backward mandal in the region inhabited by SCs and STs.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Labour and Employment Mr Bandaru Dattatreya and Mr. D.D.Misra, Director HR sharing their thoughts on Organic farming and ONGC’s commitment.
The ONGC board has approved extending Rs. 4.00 Crore financial support to Ekalavya Foundation for construction of admin block, hostels for the students and other amenities at the Foundation’s sprawling 100 acre land in Gingurti , Tandur Mandal in Telangana. It is pertinent to note that the Ekalavya Foundation has been chosen as the implementing agency to train farmers under Pandit Dheen Dayal Upadhyay Unnat Krishi Siksha Yojana (PDDUUKSY). The Foundation had commenced a two year diploma course on Organic Farming in the academic year 2015 for 25 students.
The course includes agronomy, physiology, entomology, pathology, soil science, vegetable cultivation, water management, horticulture, manufacturing organic fertilizers etc. In view of lack of infra-structure the course was being conducted by the Foundation in a temporary campus at Ibrahimpatna. The eligibility for the course is matriculation for both boys and girls. ONGC’s support will enable the Foundation in setting up a full-fledged Training & Research Centre. Ekalavya Foundation proposes to train 200 students in Organic Farming and certify them as expert consultants. Through this initiative the implementing partner, Ekalavya Foundation, who has been authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture as a certifying agency, is planning to provide residential training for more than 8000 farmers through 150 famers’ club in the State of Telangana.
The programme was chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Labour and Employment Mr Bandaru Dattatreya, Minister of Transport, Telangana State Dr. Patnam Mahender Reddy, Members of Parliament Mrs Kalvakuntla Kavitha, Mr Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Mr. Gokaraju Ganga Raju, MP, Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh, Mr Govind Bhardwaj, representing Govt. of Haryana and other local state authorities. The foundation stone was laid by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Labour and Employment Mr Bandaru Dattatreya in the presence of all these dignitaries wherein Mr.D.D.Misra, Director (HR) and Mr.S.S.C.Parthiban, Chief CSR were also present.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Labour and Employment Mr Bandaru Dattatreya thanked ONGC and all other stakeholders who have joined hands to make this project become a reality.
Speaking on the occasion Director (HR) observed that “organic farming is the future of India. ONGC is proud to be associated with such a noble and genuine research foundation. The Foundation is set to take organic farming deep into the hinterland to transform the Agricultural scenario of the country”.
Referring to the initiative of ONGC support to organic farming, Mr Misra stated that “Minister of State – Independent Charge Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Mr Dharmendra Pradhan has guided ONGC to associate with this unique research and training centre working in the remote locations of the country”.
Promoting Organic Farming and Educating the farmers in the backward district of Telangana falls under the purview of the focus areas of Schedule VII of Companies Act 2013 with a particular reference of ensuring environmental sustainability, protection of flora and fauna, conservation of natural resources and maintaining quality of soil, air and water as well as promoting livelihood for members of the society.
Out of total expenditure of Rs.120 Crore as on date, during the year 2017-18, ONGC has spent Rs. 31.40 Crore towards such initiatives and the journey of CSR, ONGC continues…
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