I always used to quote in my public discussions that India has more than 3.3 million non-governmental organisations (NGOs), a figure I got from somewhere and stuck with me. I also, on my own, without any substantial support, mentioned that not more than 10% of these NGOs would be working with sincerity and dedication. My…
The 6th edition of the mBillionth Awards marked an important day for both the grassroots NGOs and the digital community.At a time when there is growing distrust of NGOs across the country, the need for a validated and verified identity has become all the more pertinent for non-profits.July 23, 2015, marked an exciting time in the history …
The 6th mBillionth Award 2015 was a high-powered event. The annual award salutes mobile-based innovations for development and, this year, mBillionth received 320 nominations in 11 categories from eight countries. Out of these, the Grand Jury selected 53 finalists, and 24 winners were felicitated at a grand ceremony on July 23, 2015, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
“NGOs in crisis” “13,000 in 2 months” “Crackdown on NGOs” If you have been reading newspapers in the last few months, you would have encountered some of these headlines. There is serious worry over the fate of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and what the government intends to do with them. My view is somewhat different: The…
Dear fellow Indians, I am Ramu and my wife’s name is Sita. I have two children—Prakash and Savitri. We live in Doudi, a small village located in a corner of Kesla, in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh. We are actually one of those 100 families who were displaced because of the Tawa dam that was…
The poorest of poor, illiterate and those living in remote areas can make use of GPS devices to prepare documentary proof of their land-use and get land titles
For many years, farmers in India have had little freedom in choosing markets and buyers for their produce. All states in the country, except three, mandate that marketing and selling of farm produce must be routed through state-owned mandis, retail markets where middlemen squeeze farmers to increase margins. In such a situation, can technology-enabled solutions…
A survey conducted among 200 women in Bhadohi and Ferozabad, two small towns in Uttar Pradesh, revealed a picture of cybercafe use in the country’s hinterland. The survey, published in Public Access ICT Across Cultures, found a strong correlation between education, income and the use of Internet and communication technologies. It also found that the…
I want to share with you a couple of breathtaking stories of how mobile phones have made a difference in women’s lives The week before last, I was having one of those regular conversations with Sunil Jaglan, the sarpanch who has been more in the news than perhaps our prime minister, more recently for his…
I would suggest the govt make 2015-16 the year of broadband highways and ensure at least 50,000 panchayats are truly connected and functional
