Pilot Project Scheme for Mobile VAS & Livelihood Related ICT Skills for Rural Women’s SHGs

Sanchar Shakti-ICTs for Rural Women’s SHGs, Presentation on World Telecommunications & Information Society Day, 17 May 2012 at the Institution of Telecommunications & Electronic Engineers, New Delhi, India

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Abstract

The Sanchar Shakti programme of the Universal Service Obligation Fund, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India has correctly focussed on providing useful and relevant value added services through mobile phones. The programme’s Proof of Concept stage has demonstrated the successful use of ICT enabled access to information as a tool of women’s empowerment. Going forward it is expected that the one year pilot will apart from enriching the lives of its beneficiaries, also prove the utility and viability of ICT enabled access to knowledge and services for women’s empowerment. It is also hoped that its success would encourage other government departments, service providers and interested agencies to take up such work not only as a part of welfare schemes but also on a commercially sustainable basis.