“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.

Dignitaries at the Foundation Stone Location

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.

A glimpse of the training field

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….

By Team Corporate CSR