Telecom service provider, Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL), has launched a new product offering, primarily targeted at the the rural community. Under a project christened ‘Nano Ganesh’, TTSL will be offering services that allows the farmers to operate their irrigation pumps from remote locations without having to travel tens of kilometres to and fro daily. The telecom service provider has tied up with Ossian Agro Automation to offer a remote device access to regulate the irrigation systems.
According to Naveen Bhasin, chief operating officer (Gujarat), Tata Teleservices Limited, “Tata Indicom is the first operator in the country to partner Ossian Agro to offer remote access to irrigation pumps using a mobile phone Nano Ganesh – a radical move to save electricity, time, money and resources like water. We have launched a pilot project as part of the inauguration at Sojitra in Anand district of Gujarat.”
Under the service, farmers will have to buy a Tata Indicom mobile connection and a mobile modem that will be attached to the starter of the pump set. After registration, the subscriber (farmer) will be provided with a unique code number. Using the mobile handset, the farmer can remotely switch on and switch off the pump set with the assigned code number. The farmer can also check the on/off status as well as the availability of power by a particular tone. “This service is exceptionally functional in order to save lot of time and energy in the regions that have erratic power supply,” Bhasin said.
The subscriber will be charged Rs 2,700 for the device and an additional amount for the handset that offers lifetime validity. The service comprises two handsets that will be provided with the bundled offer – one installed with the device while the other remains with the farmer. All the calls made to the pump by the Tata Indicom mobile will be free whereas the other calls will be charged as per the tariff plan given to the subscriber.