1. Digital Ecosystem for Agriculture and Rural Livelihood

A system has been developed for providing a multimedia platform for creation, sharing and dissemination of agricultural information among farmers & experts. It has created an ontology based agricultural vocabulary database in Hindi with more than 28,000 agricultural terms. This Agricultural vocabulary is based on Agrovoc in English developed by Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN.  This agricultural knowledge repository can be utilized by agricultural extension scientists and farmers on various matters related to agriculture and also by the research engineers for enhancing the relevance of research results in the agricultural sector. An intuitive grid interface with horizontal and vertical sides depicting crops and agricultural practices makes it easy to get relevant information. Agrovoc visualization tool has been developed which shows agrovoc terms and their relations in a graphical way.

2. Polysensors

This project aims at providing a low-cost and easy method of testing the impurities in water, with low-cost rugged and tropicalized sensors. Polysensor instrument can advise whether water is suitable for human consumption. It can measure impurities in water viz.  pH, Chloride ion, Nitrate ion, Electrical Conductance (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and Salinity (amount of NaCl). The system consists of a set of electrochemical sensors and an electronic measuring instrument. The sensors are specific ion electrodes with potentiometry as the measurement principle. The instrument is battery-operated and portable for field use. The measured contaminant levels are compared with those specified by WHO with a green/red LED lighting up indicating that the sample is potable/non-potable. For a detailed report, there is a 20 char × 4 line LCD display that reads out the measured concentrations. The sensor-cartridge is screen-printed, low-cost and can be easily replaced. The lower limit of sensitivity of the instrument conforms to the specification of WHO. The technology is ready for large scale deployment.

 

3. aAQUA: An archived multilingual multimedia Question Answer based communication system.

aAQUA (Almost All Question Answered) is a multilingual online question and answer forum - which provides online answers to questions asked by farmers and agri- professionals over the Internet. It allows users to create, view and manage content in their native language.  It provides easy and fast retrieval of contextual information, documents and images using various keyword search strategies with the held of query expansion and indexing techniques.  Using this, a farmer can ask a question on aAqua from a kiosk (cyber-café); experts view the question and answer back, providing solutions to the problem. It is available in English, Hindi and Marathi.  Being Unicode compliant system, it can support other languages also. Technology is ready for large scale deployment.

4. Development of Cost-Effective Solution for Community Radio Station (CRS) and its Deployment at five State Agricultural Universities (SAU) in India for Livelihood Generation:

• The Installation and Commissioning of CRS at following five SAU's has been successfully completed

1. Narendra Dev University of Agriculture & Technology – Faizabad (UP)
2. Birsa Agriculture University – Ranchi (Jharkhand)
3. Tamil Nadu Agriculture University – Coimbatore (TN)
4. CCS Haryana Agriculture University – Hisar (Haryana)
5. Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya  – Raipur (CG)

• 1000 hours of content in field Agriculture & Allied Sciences; Women & Child Empowerment; Health & Hygiene; Livelihood generation; Career Counseling & Entertainment has been created.

• Training to 125 persons has been imparted to make them radio professionals (radio jockey).

• Two National Level Workshops on capacity building for CRS were organized under this project. These workshops were attended by more than 250 agricultural experts from SAUs & KVKs.

• Training to 125 persons has been imparted to make them radio professionals (radio jockey).

• Two National Level Workshops on capacity building for CRS were organized under this project. These workshops were attended by more than 250 agricultural experts from SAUs & KVKs.

• CRS (107.8 MHz) at Birsa Agricultural University, was inaugurated by Shri Syed Sibtey Razi Sahab, His Excellency, The Governor Of Jharkhand on 3rd March 2008.

• CRS (90.4 MHz) at NDUA&T Faizabad was inaugurated by Shri Narayan Singh, Honorable State Horticulture Minister, on 27 Sept. 2008

• CRS (107.4 MHz) at Tamilnadu Agriculture University- Coimabatore was inaugrated by Deputy Chief Minister Honorable Sh. M.K. Stalin and Agriculture Minister Honorable Sh. Veerapandi S. Arumugam at TNAU on 27th Oct' 2009.

• CRS (90.4 MHz) at CCS HAU - Hisar was inaugurated by Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Honorable Chief Minister of Haryana on 29th Nov 2009.

• CRS (90.4 MHz) at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalya, Raipur was inaugurated by Shri. Raman Singh, Chief Minister, Chattisgarh on 20th January, 2010.

• Incorporating Community Radio as a part of extension programme, was taken up at the highest level in the Ministry of Agriculture. They have accepted that CRS “would make a major contribution to Agricultural Extension by utilizing reach of Radio transmission and disseminating information and knowledge produced locally”. Ministry agreed to fund Community Radio Stations under the scheme “Support of State Extension Programme of Food Extension Reforms”.

AgroSense Wireless Datalogger is a self-contained wireless unit with flexibility to attach multiple sensors for monitoring different agricultural parameters of a crop field from a remote monitoring station. The sensor data from this unit is periodically transmitted wirelessly to a remote monitoring station for providing advisory service to the farmers for better crop management. The remote monitoring station may further be connected to Internet for “anytime-anywhere visibility” of sensor data.

The eSagu is a ICT-based personalized agro-advisory system. (“Sagu” means cultivation in Telugu language.). It aims to improve farm productivity by  delivering high quality personalized (farm-specific) agro-expert advice in a timely manner  to each  farm at the farmer’s door-steps. The advice is provided on regular basis from sowing to harvesting which reduces the cost of cultivation and increases the farm productivity as well as quality of agri-commodities. In eSagu, the developments in ICT such as (database, Internet, and digital photography) are extended to improve the performance of   agricultural extension services. The project is providing personalized advice in 6 districts of Andhra Pradesh. The major crops covered under the project are cotton, chillies, rice, groundnut, castor, red gram and fish. e-Sagu project has won the best CSI-Nihilent e-Governance Project Award (overall winner) 2005-06. eSagu has been awarded “The Manthan Award 2007 – India’s Best e-Content for Development”. The eSagu system has been recognized a one of the world wide latest novel internet application by a not-for-profit Think Tank for Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taipai (Behalf of Institute of Information Industry, Taiwan). An Integrated Agri Service Program (IASP) has been envisaged to include other services viz. banking, inputs, weather, and marketing to scales up the deployment all over India.

7. Gramin Gyan Kendra

A project has been taken up to develop models for use of ICT to improve social infrastructure and public interaction for the emerging knowledge based society and integrated rural development for employment generation and livelihood security. Multimedia programs will be developed for applications in agriculture, carpet industry, local art and craft, horticulture, chunar ceramic works, cultural heritage, Banarasi saree, embroidery, primary healthcare, stone sculpture, ayurvedic and traditional medicines, folk literature/music and local culture, looms and weaving.  These programs would contain video content and text based material covering the aspects of raw material, sources, technical know-how, potential markets and various cost components. The target geographical area will cover Vindhyan Region around Mirzapur District.

Yuva Gramya Vikas Samiti & Gramin Gyan Kendra, Basani, Varanasi in Collaboration with Gramin Gyan Kendra, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University has started a Skill Development Programmes for the school students, unemployed rural youths (school dropouts) and housewives of the target area. This training will enhance their technical know-how and they can utilize the skills acquired for income generation activities for livelihood security.

8. ICT for Empowerment of Women and Child Development.

The project aims to build enabling ICT platforms for empowering women and children in rural communities. The main objectives of the project are to create awareness about various issues, provide information to enable women and children to take informed decisions, help them become confident and self-reliant, provide a platform for self-expression & ‘voice’ to become a part of the transformation process.  Deliverables of the projects includes multimedia content (in various formats – audio, video, CD based text etc) on 10 development themes i.e Life Skills, Compulsory Education, Health - reproductive health, sexual health, nutrition, child care, age care & HIV/AIDS, SHG / VO capacity building, content for women entrepreneurs, Legal rights & duties, Effective functioning for women PRI members, financial literacy and livelihood skills. As a part of its strategy and attempt to serve the communities better and empower them, 3 Community Radio Stations & 8 Community TV Centres will be established. Project Chetana

9. e-Galla - A Low Cost Retail Management System.

The purpose of this project is to develop a low cost retail management system for small & medium retailers which would encompass a host of services involving both hardware and software components for increase in efficiency of livelihood generation and social development by propagating improved methods of trade, inventory management, billing, account management, collaborative social network of shops etc. This will in turn increase the customer base and profit margins.

TEST DEPLOYMENT

10. Digital Craft Revival

CHIC is a Computer Aided Design (CAD) tool for enhancing the productivity of the Chikankari designers. CHIC allows capturing of Chickankari motifs in digital form, use of these motifs to create new designs with fast turnaround time, engrave the designs directly on to the blocks. This allows to create library of traditional Indian & Persian designs for use. CHIC is ‘cost-effective’ and less ‘time-consuming’ as compared to the existing traditional methods and can help in creation of better designs.  This system is being field tested in Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with an NGO (Datamation Foundation). This product is ready for commercialization.

Another project for development of CAD based tools for carpet design to help the people involved in the carpet industry is being developed. This project is developing user-friendly software in which Carpet designers can develop new designs based on the basic motifs stored in the library and compose maintaining the spirit of the tradition of their own.

 

 

 

11. NAIP Project

The aim of the project is to develop a set of alternative ICT models based on a study and analysis of the major ICT initiatives in agriculture in India to meet the information need of the Indian farmers. For more details log on to the website http://www.ekrishinaip.in

12. Establishment of ‘Chanderi Weaver ICT Resource Centre’ (CWICTRC) in Madhya Pradesh

The project aims at providing various livelihood and soft skills through ICT based empowerment and facilitation of textile weavers in Chanderi community. The activities proposed are as follows:

Digital Preservation: CAD software tool has been deployed in the resource center.

• Created 250+ Chanderi designs using CAD software with the help of Chanderi centre students. Created a library of 250+ Chanderi designs using CAD software including traditional chanderi designs.
• Total of 200 apparel designs has been made so far in the centre with help of local weaving community by giving training to them.
• During software design training process 12 master designers have been trained from enrolled students and they are making Chanderi designs library. Some of these designs have been implemented on sarees.

Impact on community by ICT based Training:

In design making at Weaving Level, Cloth Design, Apparel Design and Textile Design & Finished product Design.

• 120 students were trained in first batch in the field of design making at Weaving Level, Cloth Design, Apparel Design, and Textile Design & Finished Product Design. The second batch for 130 weavers has been trained.
• Total of 415 students has been trained in first batch for Vocational skill training. Training of second batch of 323 students has been done.
• 450+ students have been trained so far. Training has been given to another batch of 424+ youths in the center for skill builder training, Design making, English program and Computer training.

Marketing by use of ICT:

For marketing of local community products and to create Exclusive Outlet of the finished products e-Commerce enabled website www.chanderiyaan.net is being developed to sell Chanderi products through Internet. Finished products created through the Center are being showcased at Raja Rani Mahal, Chanderi.

• Formation of 12 Self Help Groups (SHGs) from local community and microfinance, small scale trading activities has been started.
• With help of resource centre, local Chanderi weavers visited Jakarta (Indonesia) to participate in Made in India show organized by CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) and business were made by Chanderi weavers worth Rs. 85,00.
• A weaving research team from Traidcraft , London (UK) visited Chanderi to understand the Chanderi weaving process. Director of Mother Earth visited Chanderi and placed order worth 5 Lakh.
• A fellowship program has been initiated for loom process and brochure has been created for the same. Showcase was made in Made in India show of Jakarta & Manthan award event for finished products.
• Chanderiyaan stall has been approved for commonwealth games exhibition, during October 2010.
• Development of e-commerce website completed for showcase and marketing of products, and is under testing. http://chanderiyaan.net .

13. Chanderi Integrated ICT for Development Programme (CIIDP) in Madhya Pradesh

MLAsia is also doing ICT in Healthcare, Education and Livelihood generation based activities with deployment of its technologies.

ICT & Social Entrepreneurship Programme:

Setup has been made for block printing, weaving & embroidery work.  15 people trained &  training work is going on for 75 entrepreneurs in embroidery work & block printing on clothes, 8 people trained & 15 people are under training for Block Printing. Computerized integrated embroidery design: 7 people trained & training is going on for 60 persons. Jacquard block punching machine has been procured and installed in the center to create blocks for weaving process. A 3D software has also been procured to visualize the designs on a prepared scene.

Digital Tourism Promotion Programme:

Local Community Portal is being created with dynamic site having social-cultural-historical-information in digitized form.  http://chanderiyaan.chanderi.org - ICT resource center information portal &  http://www.chanderi.org -  Chanderi tourism portal.

Mobile application:

Mobile Application has been developed. It  can be downloaded using GPRS on java enabled mobile phones from Chanderi  tourism portal  and Media Lab Asia portal to receive information on tourist mobile phones to assist tourists. 

To download mobile application click here:

Chanderi virtual gallery showcase for monuments has been developed and implemented on chanderi tourism portal http://www.chanderi.org to get a panoramic view of chanderi monuments

ICT in Healthcare program:

Deployment of e-dhanwantrai, a web based Tele-medicine software is in process to connect the existing public health facilities in Chanderi with telemedicine facilities with a hospital of repute in Ashoknagar.  Medical consultation has been given to more than 170+ patients. Identified and procured multipurpose medical kit equipments to perform basic medical test as ECG,Spirometry,NIBP & Spo2 etc. EMR will be generated using software and report will be sent  to doctors. Tele-Health kit "Element 6" has been procured and installation is in process. This will enable to register patients EMR data from field with consultation facility.

ICT in Education program:

Hardware setup has been done in 3 Madarasas with setting-up of connectivity facility using wireless network, 6 teachers have been trained. Training of 100 students of Madarasas is in process. Discussions are going on  for MOU with school authorities  for hardware setup in remaining 10 schools with training to 20 more teachers. Educational training will be provided to 1000 school students through educational contents/ portals as Gyanpedia etc.