EMN
Dimapur, March 10
The North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) was set up in 2012 as an autonomous society under the department of Science and Technology to assist the north-eastern region of the country in ensuring applications of appropriate technologies for development in the areas of biodiversity, watershed management, telemedicine, horticulture, infrastructure planning and development, planning and monitoring, tele-schooling. It uses cutting edge MESHNET solutions, employment generation, etc. through utilization of local products/resources and resulting in associated skill development.
Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan said in the Lok Sabha yesterday that, the centre had developed and showcased ‘many appropriate technologies for the region and proved their efficacy in real life,’ with financial assistance from the Government of India and also from the state governments.
So far, the government of Meghalaya has also allotted five acres of land for setting up the office of NECTAR in the new Shillong areas, Dr. Vardhan said. The Cabinet approved the merger of National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA) and the Mission for Geo Spatial Applications (MGA) along with their assets and liabilities into the Centre. The talent pools available with these missions helped kick start the activities of NECTAR.
In his reply, the minister listed what he called achievements:
• Nagaland: On the request of the Nagaland Disaster Management Authority, high frequency radio communication system network has been designed to connect the deputy commissioners with the Disaster Management Authority. All eleven districts were connected with the State Disaster Management Authority.
• Sikkim: NECTAR has put up a small demonstrator network using SDRs, which meets the needs and requirements of Government of Sikkim.
• Arunachal Pradesh: NECTAR has installed a fail-safe communication network for the State Police Department. Seventy two static SDRs have been installed, linking the police stations with the headquarter. This network allows email, voice and data transfer and broadcast facilities. There is seamless network connectivity from Zimethang on the Chinese border to Vijay Nagar on the Burmese border.
• Nagaland: NECTAR also working with Government of Nagaland for development of GIS platform in the State.
