Vol 3 Issue 4 | April 2014
 
enortheast enortheast enortheast enortheast heritage heritage
 
Letter from Editor
Internet, Technology and its usage have become an integral part of our daily lives. It is a powerful platform that has revolutionized every sector and all walks of life. We at Digital Empowerment Foundation believe in taking small steps towards a bigger goal of a Digitally Empowered India.
 
On 8th and 9th April 2014, British Council is organizing a two days 'Training for Trainers' (TOT) workshop in British Council, New Delhi where 30 participants from all CIRCs across India will be trained on English Communication Skills. It will be an added benefit for people are not able to use computer and Internet due to lack of Basic English skills. On, 28th March 2014, Digital Empowerment Foundation with Ministry of Minority Affairs conducted a workshop for women in Chandauli under the Minority Cyber Gram Yojana. Using ICT tools 70-80 women were informed about various schemes run by the Government of India in the field of health, education and livelihood. Special concentration was given to health issues so that women understand the importance of taking care of their health.
 
DEF in collaboration with Public Interest Registry successfully conducted two international eNGO workshops last month. The workshops were conducted in Lagos, Nigeria and Dhaka, Bangladesh. 106 NGOs in Nigeria and 57 NGOs in Bangladesh attended the eNGO workshop. The objective of these workshops was to empower grassroots organisations with ICT tools.
 
DEF believes in the power of mobile as an efficient development tool. Since last five years, we reach out, identify, felicitate and mentor best mobile innovations from the 8 South Asian countries under our initiative mBillionth Award. We would like to bring this to the attention of our readers that nominations are now open for the award. We invite all innovators, developers and practitioners within Mobile and telecom domain from all 8 South Asian countries to apply for mBillionth Award 2014.
 
We at DEF try to do our bit in empowering as many people as possible through ICT tools. We dream of and work towards a digital Bharat.
Recent Activities
 
International Delivery Wing Launched for Chanderiyaan
Chanderiyaan.net has now gone international. The international delivery wing of Chanderiyaan was launched on 23rd March 2014.The e- commerce portal started functioning on 5th December 2013. Since then, Chanderi products for INR 89,205 have been sold through the portal. The website introduces the mystic beauty of Chanderi weaving to various countries all over the world. It is a platform to share the brilliance of craftsmanship of the Chanderi weavers in District Ashok Nagar of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. It is one stop online shopping platform for Chanderi products. Chanderiyaan.net. Read more
British Council Extends Support
After digital literacy, British Council is now partnering with Digital Empowerment Foundation to impart English communication skills to students in all our Community Information Resource Centre across India. British Council is organizing a two days 'Training for Trainers' (TOT) workshop in British Council, New Delhi on 8th and 9th April where 30 participants from all CIRCs across India will be trained on English Communication Skills. These trainers will later train people in their concerned CIRCs on Basic English communication. Read more
Voices from Community Radio Stations
The 4th Community Radio Sammellan was held from 13th March 2014 to 15th March 2014, in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organized the event to encourage, promote and empower Community Radio Stations across India. Digital Empowerment Foundation attended and interviewed 40 Community Radio stations from across India during the Sammellan. The interviews were meant to gain an insight into the problems faced by community radio stations in setting up and encouraging people to listen and associate with community radio stations in the country.For Videos
Mobile App to Explore Shahjahanabad
In November 2013, Digital Empowerment Foundation in collaboration with United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation and Indian Heritage Cities Network launched the e-Heritage project across India. It is a capacity building programme to empower cities to create a digital presence of their local heritage. Currently the project has been launched in four cities across India, Old Delhi, Pune, Shekhwati and Chanderi. Taking forward the e-Heritage project, Digital Empowerment Foundation has also worked on launching a mobile application for the same called 'M-Shahjahanabad'. Read more
eNGO Bangladesh
There are currently over 60,000NGOs working as a development organization in Bangladesh out of which 2298 are registered with NGO Affairs Bureau, Bangladesh.A satisfactory number of NGOshave basic knowledge about ICT application but they do not have a proper webpage for knowledge sharing. Most of the NGOs working at the grassroots level therefore remain unknown and do not receive the appreciation and benefit coming from sources that can provide support to these local NGOs. This situation is so due to various factors like: -lack of resources and lack of knowledge on ICT expertise and foresight. Read more
eNGO Programme (International) – Nigeria
According to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) there are currently over 45,000 NGOs in Nigeria, out of which a majority of them do not have a proper webpage. Most of these NGOs have limited or no access to ICT tools. These NGOs working at the grassroots remain unknown and do not get the advantage and appreciation, which come from Government bodies to such organizations. This situation might be a result of lack of finance, expertise and foresight. Besides, all such NGOs have a lot of information that is limited to their geographical area, policy makers, or potential granters. Digital Empowerment Foundation. Read more
5th mBillionth Awards: Nominations Now Open
Nominations are now open for the 5th mBillionth Awards. We invite all innovators, developers and practitioners within Mobile and telecom domain from across 8 south Asian countries to apply for mBillionth Award 2014.mBillionth Award recognizes the best mobile practices and explores new apps which focus towards development. It tries to cull out the best mobile applications across South Asia under various categories and recognize them for their innovative ideas, implementation and consistent growth in addressing various social issues. Read more
Connecting the Disconnected: Minority Cyber Gram Yojana
While development indices are rapidly increasing in India, the growth of backward sections of Muslim minorities is very stagnant in the country. In this highly competitive world where it is important to be well educated to lead a comfortable living, a high percentage of people from the Muslim community lag behind due to lack of opportunities. According to Sachar Committee report, 25 percent children from minorities ranging between the age group 6 to 14 either do not go to school or dropout. Although there are some schemes, which are being run by the Government to facilitate the community. Read more
From Chanderi to Chanderiyaan- 'Living Heritage' Flourishing
The 2nd World Living Heritage Festival-2014 was held in Udaipur from 13th March to 16th March 2014. Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur in association with UNESCO New Delhi, organized the event. The conference discussed themes and priorities of living heritage across India. Global agencies, government and non-government bodies, educational institutions, foundations, the private sector and the media participated in the conference. The main focus of the conference was to promote culture, tradition and heritage of the country. Read more
DEF Calender of Events 2014
 
OSAMA MANZAR'S COLUMN
 
चुनाव के बहाने ही सही, नई तकनीक से रूबरू हो रहे हैं गांववाले
जहां देश भर में लोकसभा चुनाव की सर्गरमी तेज है, वहीं दूसरी तरफ घोषणाओं और वादों का पिटारा भी खुल चुका है। लेकिन, हर बार की तरह इस बार भी किसी में विकास की कोई छटपटाहट नहीं है। अगर, इस चुनाव में कुछ नया है तो वो है सूचना और तकनीक का भरपूर इस्तेमाल। 9 चरणों में होने वाले 16वीं लोकसभा चुनाव में करीब 81.4 करोड़ मतदाता अपने मत का इस्तेमाल करेंगे, जो पिछली बार के मुकाबले 10 करोड़ ज्यादा है।इतनी बड़ी संख्या में मतदाताओं को हर सूचना मुहैया कराने और नजर रखने के लिए निर्वाचन आयोग कई तरह के अत्याधुनिक तकनीकी माध्यमों का इस्तेमाल करने का फैसला किया है। चुनाव आयोग ने इंटरनेट के जरिए देश के हर बूथ को जोड़कर और मिनटों में हर सूचना देश के एक कोने से दूसरे कोने में पहुंचाने का भी इंतजाम कर लिया है, जिसमें सोशल मिडिया एक अहम रोल अदा करेगा।Read more
नजरे इनायत से महरूम जरदोजी
देश भर में आम चुनाव की घोषणा होते ही माहौल बदला-बदला सा नजर आने लगा है। कहीं एक दूसरे को नीचा दिखाने की होड़ तो कहीं किसी खास समुदाय का हितैसी बताने की होड़। इसी होड़ में कहीं ऐसा गुमनाम इलाका भी है जहां के लोग चुनावी गहमागहमी से बेखबर हर रोज की तरह अभावों से जूझते दो जून की रोटी को मोहताज हैं। हालांकि, नाउम्मीदी से उम्मीद लगाए उन लोगों को इस बात से खुशी है कि चाहे किसी की नजरे इनायत उनपर पड़े न पड़े, लेकिन उनके बीच का कोई तो है जो देश-विदेश के नेताओं की बराबरी करता है और बिना किसी तामझाम के गांव लौटकर वो सबसे मिलता-जुलता हैं, बात करता हैं, लोगों की समस्याएं भी सुनता है।Read more
आईटी के क्रांति युग में अंग्रेजी बन सकती है सफलता की सीढ़ी
दुनिया भर में सूचना क्रांति को नई दिशा देने में भारत का जो योगदान रहा है उसे देखते हुए दुनिया के लोगों में ये सोच बन गई है कि भारत के ज्यादातर शिक्षित युवा आईटी के क्षेत्र में अच्छा-खासा ज्ञान रखते होंगे। हालांकि इसके पीछे सच्चाई कुछ और ही है। दरअसल सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी में भारत की बड़ी कामयाबी के पीछे भारतीय नौजवानों के एक बहुत छोटे हिस्से का ही रोल है, जिन्होंने किसी कॉन्वेंट या मिशनरी स्कूल में तालीम हासिल की है। आर्थिक दृष्टि से ये नौजवान अपेक्षाकृत बेहतर परिवारों से आते हैं और मझौले या बड़े शहरों में रहते हैं।Read more
 
CMN: ALT Media Analysis
 
Crossing the Social Divide
The voice of alternative media is ratifying need for good governance in the interest of marginalised society. Last week alternative media covered opinions and news stories which focused on inequality, human rights and mis-governance. Some of the most prominent stories covered by Alternative Media were by Video Volunteers, CGNet Swara, Kafila, The Hoot, Down to Earth etc. Last week the mainstream media was full of stories surrounding the arrest of Sahara Chief, Subrata Roy. Popular news channels repeatedly .Read more
PARTNERS' ACTIVITIES
 
Report on "Internet for women
"Internet for women: Online Shopping and security issues", workshop was organized by Digital empowerment Foundation in DLRC, Kanpur Public Library under Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation initiative on 1st March 2014. The main aim of the workshop was to train and encourage women to use online shopping websites. The workshop also discussed how online shopping could help them save money. Read more
 
News to Know from https://www.facebook.com/mbillionth
सोनी ने एप्पल को पछाड़कर स्मार्टफोन बाजार में दूसरा स्थान हासिल किया
जापानी कंपनी सोनी ने एप्पल से दूसरा स्थान छीन लिया है. भारतीय स्मार्टफोन बाजार में सोनी की यह जबरदस्त सफलता है. कंपनी ने इसके लिए सही रणनीति पर काम किया और उसे सफलता भी मिली. बाजार के आंकड़े इकट्ठा करने वाली कंपनी आईडीसी के मुताबिक सोनी ने 2013 की अक्टूबर-दिसंबर तिमाही में भारतीय स्मार्टफोन बाजार का 9.1 प्रतिशत हिस्सा ले लिया जबकि एप्पल महज 7 प्रतिशत पर ही कब्जा कर सकी. बाजार के सबसे बड़े खिलाड़ी कोरियाई कंपनी सैमसंग ने 43.Read more
 
आ गया विंडोज़ फोन 8.1, विंडोज़ 8.1 अपडेट
माइक्रोसॉफ्ट ने बिल्ड 2014 कॉन्फ्रेंस में विंडोज़ फोन 8.1 और विंडोज़ 8.1 अपडेट ऑपरेटिंग सिस्टम पेश किया। विंडोज़ फोन 8.1 नए स्मार्टफोन्स पर इस महीने के अंत से मिलना शुरू हो जाएगा। विंडोज़ 8 यूज़र्स को विंडोज़ 8.1 अपडेट 8 अप्रैल से मिलना शुरू हो जाएगा। कंपनी ने ऐलान किया कि विंडोज़ फोन प्लैटफॉर्म के लिए उसने भारत की माइक्रोमैक्स और साइप्रस की प्रेस्टिजियो स। Read more
 
स्मार्टफोन हो गए हैं बेहद सस्ते, दामों में भारी कटौती
स्मार्टफोन और इलेक्ट्रॉनिक गैजेट्स के शौकीनों के लिए बड़ी खबर. बाज़ार में इनके दामों में भारी कमी आई है. कई प्रॉडक्ट के दाम तो आधे हो गए हैं. कोरियाई कंपनी सैमसंग ने अपने गैलेक्सी S4 की कीमतों में जबर्दस्त कटौती की है. यह एक शानदार फोन है और इसमें ओक्टा कोर एक्जीनस प्रॉसेसर, 2जीबी रैम और 16जीबी स्टोरेज है जो बढ़ सकता है. इसमें 13 एमपी रियर कैमरा है Read more
 
Next Android version to focus on security
Android, though the most popular mobile operating system in the world, has long been criticized for its lax security. However, this may be about to change as a new report has claimed that Google will aim to enhance Android's security features with the next update. The Information, the website which leaked that Google was ready to pay over $19 billion for WhatsApp Read more
 
How to save on mobile bills on foreign tours
If you can't live without your mobile phone even on foreign tours, here are some options to keep you connected without blowing your bank. A little research on the Net can save you a lot of expenses later. Special plan from your existing provider: If you are planning a short trip of, say two or three days, it makes the most sense to get a roaming plan especially for that country.Read more
 
आ गया फायरचैट ऐप, बिना नेटवर्क के करिए चैट
सैन फ्रांसिस्को की कंपनी ओपन गार्डन ने फायरचैट (FireChat) नाम का ऐसा ऐप पेश किया है, जिससे बिना वाई-फाई, बिना इंटरनेट कनेक्शन, यहां तक कि बिना मोबाइल फोन नेटवर्क के भी आप अपने आस-पास के फायरचैट यूज़र से चैट कर सकते हैं। फायरचैट पिछले हफ्ते आईफोन के लिए पेश किया गया था। अब इसे ऐंड्रॉयड के लिए भी पेश कर दिया गया है। यह ऐप ओपन गार्डन की मेश नेटवर्किंग टेक्नॉलजी पर काम करता है, जिसके लिए किसी कनेक्शन की जरूरत नहीं पड़ती।।Read more
 
नज़र न लग जाए, आंखों को स्मार्टफोन की
ऑप्टिशियनों (चश्मा बनाने वालों) के अनुसार क्लिक करें स्मार्टफोन के दीवानों को उनके ही फोन की नजर लग रही है.संबंधित समाचारस्मार्टफ़ोन के ज़रिए अकाउंट में जमा होगा चेकस्मार्टफ़ोन अब बिक्री में भी आगे निकला स्मार्टफ़ोन में जापान से आगे निकला भारत ऑप्टिशियनों ने स्मार्टफोन यूजर्स को यह चेतावनी 2,000 लोगों पर किए गए एक अध्ययन के बाद दी है. Read more
 
Instagram bug hides recent photos
Instagram says it is fixing a bug that has hidden users' photos on its mobile app from the past several days. The Facebook-owned photo-sharing app said on Twitter Wednesday that it is working on fixing a temporary glitch that is showing photos from several days ago. It did not say how long it would take to fix the problem. Read more
 
Apple's 'transparent texting' lets you text and walk
US tech giant Apple has filed a patent for new technology that aims to make texting while walking safer by replacing the text background with a live video feed of whatever is in front of the smartphone user. Many smartphone users keep their eyes glued to the screens while texting and walking which can cause them to stumble over or bump into obstacles. Apple's 'transparent texting' Read more
 
Microsoft Office for Apple iPad released
Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, has officially launched the Microsoft Office for the Apple iPad. The suite includes Word, PowerPoint and Excel. The app is clearly not a Windows app port but instead has useful features like text re-flowing, formatting and even a custom numeric keyboard for Excel. The app is free to download and can be used to view documents or give presentations. Read more
 
 
News to Know from https://www.facebook.com/DEFIndia
General Electric on 3D printing
It's not every day you get a 20-year-old Indonesian student outsmarting some of General Electric's greatest minds and designers. According to GE's general manager for technology Christine Furstoss, the unnamed student helped General Electric save considerable sums of money Read more
 
WhatsApp worsens Varanasi weavers' woes
The mainstay of the Banarasi sari, woven with expensive natural yarn such as Chinese silk and cotton, is its design. What was an organic and handmade process, however, has now, to the dismay of weavers, been hijacked by technology to abet mass production — power looms in Surat ensure that designs of synthetic and polyester yarns are produced in bulk in quick time. Read more
 
Facebook cracks down on 'likes' in election season
With politicians boosting their social media presence in the poll season using fake online followers, Facebook has started cracking down on fraudulent accounts showing suspicious high number of 'likes'.Data from the Facebook team show that close to 52,000 pages exist for politicians and political parties in India.Read more
 
Investors warm up to start-ups with a cause
o outsiders, Vindhya e-Infomedia Pvt. Ltd appears to be just another business process outsourcing (BPO) company. What sets the Bangalore-based company apart is the fact that 80% of its 500 employees comprise women below the poverty line and those with physical disabilities; some are blind.Read more
 
Snapdeal forays into services e-commerce with online learning & education category
After pivoting from pure play service-based deal model to pure play online marketplace, Snapdeal has again forayed into services e-commerce space with online learning and education category. At present, the category offers courses. Read more
 
In A Six-Day Period, Microsoft's New CEO Satya Nadella Completely Changed The Company
In the span of six days, Microsoft's new CEO Satya Nadella has totally shaken up the company. First, he announced Office for iPad, releasing a touch version of Office for Apple's tablet before Microsoft had a touch version of Office for Windows. Read more
 
Soon, a portable readers that will read your paperbacks aloud
Pune: Are you too lazy to read, or have a book in a language you cannot comprehend, or simply prefer audio books to paperbacks, but don't know where to find them? Soon a gadget will make all that happen for you with ease. Meet Sharad Kale, who graduated last year as a computer science topper from the University.Read more
 
It is back, but should you buy the iPad with retina display?
Honestly, a lot of us were confused by Apple's decision to withdraw the iPad with Retina Display while retaining the much older iPad 2, as the iPad with Retina Display had a much better display and superior processor. And no, as far as we know, it did not suffer from any defect or problems. However. Read more
 
Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1
It is Microsoft's digital assistant. It works exactly like Apple's Siri and Google Now. It was inspired by the character "Halo" and will be powered by Bing. Cortana's data is stored in the Notebook. This includes passwords, location, browser history, contacts, appointments etc. Cortana can be accessed.Read more
 
Turkey moves to block YouTube access after 'audio leak'
Turkey has moved to block access to YouTube, a day after a court ordered the suspension of a ban on Twitter, which PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan backed. The telecoms authority (TIB) said it had taken an "administrative measure" against the site but another report suggests that talks are under way. Read more
 
 
Stay connected with us
With the motto of 'Inform, Communicate and Empower,' Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) started its journey in the month of December, 2002. Based out of New Delhi and registered as not-for-profit under the "Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, the effort at DEF has been to find sustainable Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions including digital and new media to address digital divide in under-served and unreached regions and communities. With a non-political approach, it was founded to contribute to an enabling social and economic order in India as well as in developing societies with the need based support of ICT tools and means. With ground work since 2003, DEF has reached over 22 States and 8 countries.
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