Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd has launched an application which will enable farmers to know ‘mandi' rates on their mobile phone. Called Digital Mandi, the application has been developed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.
The application gives mandi rates of approximately 3000 agricultural produce markets. Other telecom companies, including Reliance Communications, have already launched such services earlier.
Mr Kapil Sibal said that it is technology with innovation in its application to suit human needs that brings revolution in society. “Innovations have now made it possible to deliver value-added services in the field of education, healthcare, agriculture etc. through hand held devices which is empowering through mobile phones,” he said.
Telecom revolution
Mr Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communications & IT, said that any technological revolution that has ever happened in the history has a meaning only when it has been responsive to the human needs. He underlined the great potential of the telecom revolution to bring in a sea change in the quality of life by enabling delivery of quality health care and education while also enduring the financial inclusion. He highlighted that the new technology will usher in an era which will bridge the traditional social divides by demolishing geographical, cultural and linguistic barriers.
Another mobile application developed at IIT Bombay, called Intelligent Mobile Social Networking Platform – similar to Facebook and Orkut, was also launched.