The Tamil Nadu Federation of Voluntary Associations (TAFVA) plans to distribute ‘green cards' to 10,000 women belonging to various self-help groups in Kanyakumari district.
According to Raja Gubendran, State organiser of Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) floated by IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL), Chennai, who participated in a programme ‘Women's empowerment and access to latest communication system' here on Sunday, to make mobile telephony more accessible and affordable among rural consumers, it has been decided to provide green cards to SHG members.
Users of the special prepaid mobile connection would be able to get tips on agriculture and animal husbandry in the form of voice messages, besides access to a toll-free number of a helpdesk. They could get guidance from scientists on farming by dialling the toll-free number.
The State president of TAFVA, S. Manoharan, said that in the first phase it 10,000 ‘green cards; would be distributed free of cost. It was for the first time that such an initiative had been taken in the district. The programme was supported by the world's largest farmers' cooperative, IFFCO, and leading telecom service provider, Airtel, to empower 50 crore Indian farmers in the country.
The district convener of TAFVA, R. Arul Kannan, said that it would become a sort of second Green Revolution. The new joint venture company, IKSL, would provide a major boost to Indian agriculture and the rural economy by harnessing the power of telecom to add value to the farm sector and empower the rural farmer by giving him access to vital information, which would enhance his livelihood and quality of life. The ‘green cards' would be distributed by the end of this month.
The Regional Manager (South Zone) of Airtel, Kanakaraj, district president of TAFVA, Rajan, and others spoke.
