A Centre on Geoinformatic Applications in Rural Development (C-GARD) was established at Ralegan Siddhi under Prakuti Foundation, funded by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, under the Technical guidance of C-GARD, NIRD.

          Shri B K Sinha, Director General, NIRD inaugurated the C-GARD, Ralegan Siddhi Centre, on 22nd November, 2008. The Centre aims at developing various Geoinformatics Applications in Rural Development viz. in Watershed, NREGS, Bharat Nirman, Gram Panchayat Planning, Disaster Management and other Rural Development Projects and Programmes.

          Dr. V Madhava Rao, Head, C-GARD, Dr. R R Hermon, Sr. Asst. Prof., C-GARD, Shri T Phanindra Kumar, Consultant (RS & GPS) and Shri A Amar Kumar, Scientist (Networking) designed and developed, installed and commissioned the C-GARD Centre at Ralegan Siddhi and also extensively trained two Scientists of the centre, for day to day operation, maintenance and application development.

          Shri Balasaheb Thorat, Ministry for Agriculture, Govt. of Maharastra, Padmabushan Shri Anna Saheb Hazare, Chairman of the Foundation, and  Shri Popatrao Pawar, Social Worker, graced the occasion. The people of Ralegan Siddhi, local NGO, Government Officials, and prominent citizens, PRI functionaries, participated the inaugural function.

          The Scientist of C-GARD, Ralegan Siddhi Centre presented various applications of Geoinformatic in Ralegan Siddhi area and demonstrated various potential applications of Geoinformatics in Rural Development.

          Currently, there are four Regional C-GARD Centres operating at NERC, Guwahati; SPIPA, Ahmedabad; AMR APARD, Hyderabad and OWDM, Bhubaneswar which were setup by C-GARD, NIRD with funding from DoLR, MoRD.

          C-GARD, NIRD has been requested to conducted advance level training programmes at C-GARD, Ralegan Siddhi and also to assist in various Research Projects; and C-GARD, NIRD has assisted its full Technical support and hand holding.

          The C-GARD, Ralegan Siddhi Centre is expected to spear head the frontier technology application in rural development sector for effective planning, monitoring implementation and impat assessment, by bringing space technology to the door step of the rural poor, Panchayats, NGO Sector, GO and ensure participatory development at micro level.

From clockwise: CGARD Ralegan Siddhi Scientists presenting their GIS activities to Director General,NIRD; Inaugural Function at Ralegan Siddhi;  Minister of Agriculture Shri Balasaheb Thorat addressing the gathering, and Tree Plantation by Shri B K Sinha, DG, NIRD and Shri Anna Saheb Hazare at Ralegan Siddhi, on the eve of inauguration of CGARD Centre at Ralegan Siddhi on Nov 22,2008.