One of the primary goals of Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), derived from its Mission and Vision statements, is to ensure access to the Internet for all. This goal aligns fully with both global and national mandates on digital inclusion and bridging the digital divide. All projects in this thematic area work toward providing universal access and building the infrastructure needed to achieve it.

Milestones

  • Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) is registered as a not-for-profit organisation under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
  • DEF participated in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva.
  • DEF published eContent: Voices from the Ground, a compendium of digital content from 28 countries.
  • The World Summit Award selected DEF founder Osama Manzar as a Grand Jury member, board member, and Country Expert for nominating digital best practices from India.
  • Osama Manzar travelled across India and Nepal to study existing ICTD projects empowering marginalised communities.
  • DEF developed the framework for the Manthan Awards on the lines of the World Summit Awards.
  • DEF established a partnership with the World Summit Awards.
  • DEF formally launched the Manthan Awards to identify ICTD best practices in India.
  • DEF partnered with the National Institute for Smart Governance (NISG) to develop e-Governance case studies.
  • DEF Launchedgyanpedia.in in partnership with the Ministry of Communication & Information Technology, Government of India, to aggregate content from students and teachers in 500 schools across seven states.
  • The Manthan Awards went global with the launch of the Manthan Award South Asia.
  • DEF launched the Community Information Resource Centre (CIRC) project with support from Intel.
  • DEF partnered with IL&FS and the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Government of India, to develop a content and services framework for Common Service Centres (rural kiosks) under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).
  • DEF partnered with IIM Ahmedabad to develop a 10-day rural entrepreneurship programme.
  • DEF launched Neerjal, an online drinking water information management system, in partnership with Barefoot College and the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.
  • DEF initiated the Digital Panchayat programme to empower gram panchayats across the country.
  • DEF began interventions in the community radio sector.
  • DEF transitioned from partner-driven projects to self-determined programmatic interventions.
  • DEF institutionalised seven programmatic verticals: Access & Infrastructure; Governance & Services on Demand; Education & Empowerment; Social Sector & Civil Society; Market & Enterprise; Knowledge Network & Database; and Advocacy & Research.
  • DEF launched the eNGO Programme to digitally empower grassroots NGOs.
  • DEF launched the Chanderiyaan project with support from DeitY for the integrated development of the silk weaving cluster in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh.
  • DEF hosted the World Summit Award Grand Jury 2009 and India International Summit with DeitY, bringing together digital experts from 40 countries.
  • DEF became a member of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).
  • DEF launched the mBillionth Award.
  • DEF initiated the Wireless for Communities (W4C) programme in partnership with ISOC to provide wireless Internet access using unlicensed spectrum.
  • DEF launched the eMSME project to connect micro-enterprises.
  • The number of CIRCs grew from three to twenty-five centres.
  • DEF instituted the e-North East Award to recognise ICTD interventions in Northeast India.
  • Mint became a strategic partner.
  • DEF launched the Mobile for Good Awards with the Vodafone Foundation.
  • The Government of India selected DEF’s founder as a member of the Community Radio Screening Committee.
  • The DEF founder became a member of DeitY’s Working Group for Internet Proliferation and Governance.
  • With support from NIXI and DeitY, DEF developed 50 ICTD case studies based on ground visits.
  • DEF joined a consortium formed by NASSCOM Foundation for the National Digital Literacy Mission, which became a Government of India mission in 2014.
  • DEF launched the Digital Knowledge Centre.
  • DEF launched the eNGO Challenge.
  • DEF partnered with Internews to promote a Citizen Media Network.
  • DEF initiated the Internet Rights
  • DEF launched the District Public Libraries Project with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
  • DEF initiated the eHeritage Project with UNESCO support.
  • DEF launched the Red Rickshaw Revolution, focusing on women’s empowerment.
  • DEF started the Mobile for Social & Behavioural Change project with UNICEF support.
  • DEF launched the Social Media for Empowerment South Asia Award with support from the American Centre.
  • DEF launched the District Collector Award within the Manthan Awards.
  • DEF trained community radio stations to use digital tools and go online.
  • DEF launched the Soochna Seva project with support from the European Union.
  • DEF conceived and implemented the Minority Cyber Gram Yojana, a Ministry of Minority Affairs initiative, in Chandoli, Rajasthan.
  • The Mobile for Good Awards became a separate entity.
  • DEF launched the Manthan South West India Award.
  • DEF initiated the eUttara Award.
  • DEF expanded the eNGO Programme to help NGOs migrate to the .ngo and .ong top-level domains.
  • DEF introduced a festival of development-oriented films and documentaries as part of the Manthan Awards.
  • DEF introduced an Angel Fund under the mBillionth Award.
  • DEF joined Google’s Help Women Get Online
  • DEF organised workshops on ICT for persons with disabilities.
  • DEF organised a UNESCO international conference on ICT for persons with disabilities.
  • DEF conducted Training of Trainers workshops across India for Google.
  • With support from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, DEF established six CIRCs in Northeast India.
  • DEF organised the first-ever national conference on rejuvenating public libraries using digital tools.