There is only one way India can become a leading country in the 21st century global economy—by ensuring unhindered deployment of its right to information (RTI) law and universally enabling it with the Internet. On 12 October, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a critical remark in this regard. “There are concerns about frivolous and vexatious…
I have coined a new job role—agent of the Internet and information—and the inspiration for this is the unusual story of two Indians who are spearheading the use of the Internet for empowerment. One is a 27-year-old former electrician and the other is a 67-year-old womansarpanch, the head of a village council. Both are dedicated…
I often use the phrase “bottom of the pyramid” to refer to that part of the untapped markets of the world that has people living on less than $2 a day. And I have realized that in India, home to 345 million poor people, you cannot be a sustainable consumer unless you are a producer. I…
Using the context of market development at BOP, we have studied the Digital Empowerment Foundation’s Chanderiyaan Project as a case study to understand how the project has been able to reduce the four market separations to develop market for Chanderi weavers in Handloom products. We used a case study approach to understand DEF’s Chanderiyaan initiative.…
Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) has signed MoU with Intel to follow the Fibre & Digitally Literate One Adult programme for Digital Literacy Mission (DLM) project. Under the Fibre & Digitally Literate One Adult programme, DEF will take 1 panchayat in each of the three proposed blocks, including Arain block in Ajmer, Panisagar in North Tripuraand…
Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) has developed Android based tablet survey tool for Nirmal Bharat Wash Yatra, a multi-channel, mega campaign that WSSCC supported by WASH United, Quicksand, and other partners. The Android-based survey form app has been installed in 4 tablets provided by Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC). The same web-based form can…
Traditionally, literacy means the ability to read and write. By that measure, a fourth of India’s population is illiterate, according to the 2011 census. If, however, we look at functional literacy, one that extends beyond the ability of rudimentary reading and affixing a signature to paper, my personal experience says close to 40% of our…
