Thane students get chance to visit ISRO under Mission Bharari programme

A group of 59 students from rural schools in Thane district has been selected to visit the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO as part of the lsquoMission Bhararirsquo initiative The programme led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is designed to provide students from Zilla Parishad schools with exposure to advanced scientific institutions and technologiesThe educational tour was flagged off on Monday morning from the District Planning office in ThaneCompetitive Selection ProcessThe initiative was launched on January 26 2026 and witnessed participation from 9316 students studying in Classes 5 to 8 across the district Following a multistage selection process 2007 students were shortlisted at the taluka level and 478 advanced to the districtlevel examinationFrom this pool 59 students were selectedmdashaveraging around 10 from each taluka The group includes 54 students from Marathimedium schools and five from Urdumedium institutionsOfficials said the selection was based on academic merit and aimed at identifying students with strong aptitude and interest in scienceFocus on Scientific ExposureAccording to Eknath Shinde the initiative goes beyond a routine educational tour It is intended to enhance studentsrsquo confidence improve learning outcomes and foster interest in science and technologyDuring the visit students will get firsthand exposure to research facilities laboratories and developments in space scienceTour ItineraryThe students are scheduled to travel from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram on April 27 The itinerary includes visits to prominent cultural and scientific sites such as the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar Statue on April 28On April 29 the group will visit key ISRO facilities including the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station They will also explore the Priyadarshini PlanetariumThe remaining days include visits to museums including the Napier Museum before the group returnsLogistics and Safety MeasuresAuthorities have arranged accommodation transport and medical support for the students throughout the tour Officials said adequate measures have been taken to ensure safety and comfort including dedicated medical personnel accompanying the groupStudents have also been provided with travel essentials such as uniforms footwear identification cards and luggage kitsA budget of Rs 50 lakh has been allocated for the programme through the District Planning CommitteeEncouraging Rural TalentDescribing the initiative as a step towards bridging the ruralurban gap in educational exposure Eknath Shinde said the programme reflects an effort to connect rural students with nationallevel institutionsHe also referred to the emphasis on education and scientific thinking advocated by leaders such as A P J Abdul Kalam Mahatma Gandhi and Sant Gadge BabaOfficials said that upon returning participating students will share their experiences with peers potentially encouraging wider interest in science education across Zilla Parishad schoolsOfficials Present at FlagOffThe flagoff event was attended by several public representatives and district officials including MLAs Kisan Kathore Niranjan Davkhare Rajesh More and Shantaram More along with Teachersrsquo MLA Dnyaneshwar Mhatre and senior administrative officers