Linking space schemes to Guru

Unequal access to information a major challenge: VSSC Director

CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, 08/09/2015: K. Sivan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram in Chennai. Photo: M. Karunakaran

K. Sivan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, has stressed the need for technology development to focus on bridging social inequalities.

Addressing a meeting on science and technology organised as part of the annual Sivagiri pilgrimage at Varkala, Dr. Sivan said ISRO’s space programmes had drawn inspiration from Sree Narayana Guru’s vision and message.

New inequalities

“Today, in the 21{+s}{+t}century, many of the inequalities that existed during the Guru’s times have been reduced to some extent but many new inequalities have emerged while old ones have assumed new forms.”

He said inequalities in access to information, modern technology, healthcare and education and the difference in the quality of life in rural and urban India posed major challenges for the country.

Food security

Highlighting the societal applications of space technology, he said India’s space programme was driven by a national imperative for achieving food and water security, predictability and monitoring of weather and climate change, improving education, health care and rural communications, supporting infrastructure development and for smart governance and sustainable development.

It also had a role in disaster management and strategic applications. Dr. Sivan said satellite data was widely used for weather forecast, resource mapping, agricultural land use planning, environmental monitoring and e-governance.

Applications

Applications of space technology in telemedicine, tele-education and prediction and early warning of extreme weather warnings had helped to improve the life of people and mitigate disasters.

ISRO, he said, had followed the methods advocated by Sree Narayana Guru to ensure social equality.