Airtel empowers Indian farmers

Sadly due to this, one is unable to earn a decent living out of it and more and more farmers find it hard to sustain a reasonable living standard.

However things are looking up. Asia's biggest telecom company, Bharti Airtel announced a first of kind "Mera Airtel, Mera Vishwas' initiative to help Indian farmers earn some extra bucks by providing 100 farmers with PCO boxes.

A farmer needs an adequate take-home package that takes care of not only his family needs, but also leaves him with a little surplus to sow the next crop.

Airtel's initiative will thus provide impetus to the growth of 100 farmers spread across 20 villages in Vidarbha. The villages from Akola, Amravati, Yavatmal Bhandara and Wardha with a population of 15,000 to 20,000 will be the first to benefit from this initiative.

Along with enhancing the lives of these farmers monetarily, this initiative will further improve quality of life of the villagers by strengthening the telephone connectivity.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anant Arora, COO, Mobility, Bharti Airtel, Maharashtra and Goa said, "The telecom industry has contributed immensely towards rural development and Airtel has been at the forefront of it. This initiative, is our yet another endeavor to contribute to the society and enhance the quality of life for the farmers.

"In the past we have addressed their needs with innovative value added services like Krishi Labh, Airtel Mobile Pump which have seen a huge success amongst them. We are certain that this too will bring about a positive change to their lives and at the same time improve the connectivity of the region," he added.

In the new initiative, each PCO box installed under this initiative is worth Rs. 2500, and is extended free of cost to the farmers with free initial talk time of Rs 2800.

Even though it's a small step, but it's a step in the right direction. The pathetic condition of the farmers need to be improved and would require many more of such initiative.

Anyone listening?