Thane: In an initiative to promote interest in science and space research among rural students, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde recently flagged off ‘Mission Bharari’, sending 59 Zilla Parishad school students on a five-day visit to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).Launched on Jan 26, the programme, an initiative of the Thane district administration, drew participation from more than 9,000 students mainly from the secondary section across the district. Following a multilevel selection process, including competitive tests, 59 students were shortlisted, including 54 from Marathi-medium and five from Urdu-medium schools, officials said. The initiative was conceived by Thane collector Shrikrishna Panchal and funded by the district planning committee. “This is a unique opportunity for rural students to gain firsthand exposure to space research, laboratories and modern scientific facilities. The visit includes Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Napier Museum,” Shinde said.
