The lack of digital connectivity is impeding development in one of India’s richest regions culturally and ecologically- the North-East. The government has put in place some policies and programmes to bolster the use of information and communication technology (ICT) here, but their poor execution means a colossal loss of opportunity for both the region and…
HT column by Osama Manzar (Date-15-June-2011)
Let’s suppose Facebook is a nation. It is then the world’s third most populous nation, after China and India. It is perhaps the only nation whose citizens come from all parts of the world—where everyone lives harmoniously, meets and corresponds with each other seamlessly, shares information, thoughts and ideas openly. Everyone wants to be in this…
The government’s approach towards universal Internet access is marred by dichotomy. While the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, calls Internet one of the most effective means of communication and urges authorities to post more information online, some newly issued guidelines appear to be an attempt to gag freedom of online expression. The RTI Act…
The environment ministry has published draft rules to regulate the management of information and communication technology (ICT) waste. Although an important step towards sustainable development, the E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2010, likely to come into force next year, fall short on some key parameters. First, the rules fail to integrate the informal sector in…
India’s nearly 250,000 panchayats are the gateways to its villages, where the bulk of the population resides. The objective of e-governance cannot be realised without digitizing these village councils and ensuring that their three million officers are trained to be a part of the nationwide drive. Sadly, we are a long way behind. The country…
HT column by Osama Manzar (Date-2-June-2011)
About CWIRC Chanderi Weavers ICT Resource Centre is a Community Information Resource Center set up by Digital Empowerment Foundation in early 2009 as a cluster network for Chanderi weavers that fuses technology with traditional skills and facilitates the process of value addition at all levels. It helps in enhancing the existing skills in weaving and textile…
INET Delhi 2009, Towards an Enabling Internet Access Environment was held in New Delhi – a conference themed on Internet for Development presented by Internet Society (ISOC) in collaboration with Digital Empowerment Foundation.
ACTIVITY REPORT of DEF (2003-2011 Updated) Since its inception in December 2002, Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) has engaged itself into number of activities while pursuing its mission and objectives of ICT delivery and promotion in India. The focus areas of intervention had been in development, promotion, spread and usage of content for grassroots use and…