Uruli Kanchan to get a tech hub

Bhartiya Agro Industries Foundation (BAIF), now known as BAIF Development Research Foundation, in coordination with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc), will set up technology hubs in the country for rural development.  

One of these centres will come up at Uruli Kanchan, 20 km from Pune, said president of BAIF, Girish Sohani.  

BAIF celebrated its 44th foundation day on Thursday. The function, held at the Central Research Station of BAIF at Uruli Kanchan, was chaired by former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, Anil Kakodkar.  

Established by late Manibhai Desai, freedom fighter and Gandhian, BAIF is serving to promote community development and sustainable livelihood. With projects all over the country, the foundation is committed to rural and tribal development.  

Sohani said that centres like Barc and CSIR were involved in the research of spin-off technology that can be taken to rural areas. The technology hubs will work to transfer the technology to the rural folk.  

“We are involved in agro-industrial research, livestock improvement, animal husbandry and others. The technologies of Barc can help us in many ways. For example, they have developed diagnostic kits which we can use for animal disease diagnosis in rural areas. Similarly, their water purification technology is more effective and can be applied on a larger scale in villages,” said Sohani.  

The Barc team recently visited Uruli Kanchan and the hubs will be come up within a year. One of these would be situated at Uruli Kanchan. Others will be spread across the country and also at other places in Maharashtra, said Sohani.  

BAIF will train local youths to demystify the technologies and
apply it locally.  

“We will first source technologies, pilot it, adapt it and then deploy it in rural areas through local cadre,” said Sohani.  

When asked about technology hubs, Kakodkar said, “We are committed to whatever BAIF says. We will support them.” 

Earlier at the function, awards were given to the wards of employees who stood out in academics and sports. These included Vaishali Kanchan, Pooja Phadke, Amrita Gokhale, Ashwini Adkoli, Ashish Nerlekar, Shraddha Kulkarni, Aarti Tamhane, Madhura Punekar, B Abhijeeth, Swapnil Indapurkar and Arpita Labade. At the outset, homage was paid to former trustee of BAIF, BG Deshmukh.