Our Constitution, Our People
Written by Harsh Mader
Illustrated by Priya Kuriyan
Doodled by Osama Manzar
2023
COVID-19 Following the Migrants Home- Plights, Struggles, and Aspirations
By Abner Manzar
2022
Following the Migrants Home is an ethnographic book on the migrant crisis that was triggered by the COVID-19 lockdown in India in 2020. The book explores the plights, struggles, and aspirations of migrants after their journey back to their villages.
Prelude to the Digital Future
By Osama Manzar
2022
Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) in partnership with Facebook (Meta) hosted a series of discussions to explore the trajectories that are changing the scale, scope, complexity of the opportunities, and challenges of rural economic growth and development, and the indispensable need for a robust digital ecosystem to facilitate the same.
Samarth SoochnaPreneur: Inspirational Stories of Empowerment
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
2022
Soochnapreneurs – The new age entrepreneurs
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
2022
Women and Girls of Digital Age
2022
By Shalini Panchal
Leading the Future Leaders
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This volume is a collection of case studies that support the initiative called GOAL Samarth taken up by DEF in collaboration with EquallyAble which facilitates mentorship to empower disabled populations from rural India by instilling life skills, leadership qualities, advocacy skills and an entrepreneurial attitude.
Redefining the Possibilities
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This volume presents a set of testimonials showing digital inclusion of disabled people from 8 states who have been part of Samarth SoochnaPreneur project under which they have become successful entrepreneurs in their villages after getting trained by DEF and EquallyAble in using digital tools for social good.
Decentralising Benefits
2021
By Dr. Syed S. Kazi and Osama Manzar
This case studies volume is a means of reflecting on collective experience of 14 major Indian CSOs that worked on the issue of improving last mile access to public schemes information in backward districts in India during 2014-2018, and supported by the European Union in India.
Covid 19 – The New Normal
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is an anthology of the thoughts of experts from the world of business, law, economics, internet governance, communication, journalism, public policy on the key learnings to be taken away from the unprecedented crisis.
MUSIRI- People, Culture & The Craft
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a photo story cum coffee table book show casing Tamil Nadu’s Musiri and its various cultures, traditions, livelihood et al.
Social Media, Disinformation, and Democracy in Asia: Country Cases
2020
By Asia Democracy Research Network
DEF along with Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) contributed to Asia Democracy Research Network’s (ADRN) special 2020 report titled ‘Social Media Influence on Electoral Democracy: A Perspective from India’.
The Value of Internet Openness in Times of Crisis
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This volume explores “The Value of Internet Openness in Times of Crisis” shedding light on how COVID-19 pandemic has harshly highlighted the fundamental importance of Internet access, and the total exclusion that the unconnected face in times of crises. Internet connectivity, has now emerged as the backbone of all social, political and economic interactions along with services.
The Book Review: Digital Shift
Volume XLIII Number 12 December 2019
By The Book Review Literacy Trust
The Book Review is a non-political, ideologically non-partisan journal which tries to reflect all shades of intellectual opinions and ideas. It carries review of numerous books by academicians, media experts, journalists.
Building Participatory Institutions For Public Service Delivery Through Access to Information in Rural India
By Anulekha Nandi
Anulekha Nandi in this paper discusses strategies to overcome the barriers of access to social protection by translating learnings from DEF’s Soochnapreneur model into a practical and analytical framework that can be used to work on and strategise the attainment of rights-based outcomes
Problem Descriptions and Background Information Guide for the Creative Problem Solving and Communication Skills Course
By Anulekha Nandi
Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) in partnership with Bertelsmann Foundation has collaborated to develop the challenge scenarios for Maastricht University’s creative problem-solving course that would help students to apply thinking techniques in the creative problem-solving process, solve real-life problems, among others.
Building Blocks of Social Network
2018
By Osama Manzar
Building Blocks of Social Networks is a book published under the social media for Empowerment Awards platform, to explore and share how some of the best social media initiatives from South Asia are leveraging the power of social media to reach out to a wider global audience and initiate a change.
Digital Roshni- Volume 1
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This book is the first in a series of four publications that describe the socio-behavioural insight of girls and women across villages in the country where they are being introduced to digital media, social media, ICT tools, community media, computers, mobiles and other modern digital tools or devices.
Digital Roshni- Volume 2
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This book is the second in a series of four publications that describe the socio-behavioural insight of girls and women across villages in the country where they are being introduced to digital media, social media, ICT tools, community media, computers, mobiles and other modern digital tools or devices.
Digital Roshni- Volume 3
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This book is the third in a series of four publications that describe the socio-behavioural insight of girls and women across villages in the country where they are being introduced to digital media, social media, ICT tools, community media, computers, mobiles and other modern digital tools or devices.
Digital Roshni- Volume 4
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This book is the fourth in a series of four publications that describe the socio-behavioural insight of girls and women across villages in the country where they are being introduced to digital media, social media, ICT tools, community media, computers, mobiles and other modern digital tools or devices.
Gems of purest ray serene
2018
By Ratan N Tata
This book has been published by The Tata Trust with Foreword by Ratan N. Tata which shares about the lives of India’s outstanding Social Workers and presents inspiring stories for young people who are exploring the roads less travelled to bring change in the society.
FIGHTING DIGITAL EXCLUSION – Tracking 15 Years of Footprints of Digital Empowerment
2018
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Osama Manzar traces DEF’s journey right from its inception in the year 2002 and how it has been fighting digital exclusion since then.
Keeping Yourself Safe Online-Volume 1
By Zothan Mawii
Zothan Mawii has developed this handbook specially for secondary school and college students on how they can keep themselves safe while being engaged with the online world.
Mobile Phones for Social and Behaviour Change
By Ritu Srivastava & Arjun Sen
This compendium is a compilation of over 100 mobile-based initiatives around education, health, civic participation, socio-economic development and disaster management within the central focus of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Right to Know: India’s internet avant garde
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
India’s internet avant garde
Social Media: People, Voices & Power
By Furkan Latif Khan
It is a book published under its social media for Empowerment initiative to explore, understand and share how some of the best social media initiatives from South Asia are leveraging the power of new media’s latest tools to bring about a change in the society. This book presents a few expert views, followed by descriptions of 52 social media initiatives from South Asia.
Brace for the next big revolution
2017
By Osama Manzar
Osama Manzar discuss how the technology is bound to revolutionise the lives of people completely in the next 25 years in this edition of Down to Earth Magazine.
Enabling the Enablers
2017
By Osama Manzar
This is a report of 2017 eNGO challenge that seeks to recognise and honour best NGO practices that deploy Information Communication Technology (ICT) and digital media for good governance practices for the benefit of societies and communities at large.
Compendium on Human Rights Violations in Digital Space
By Bijo P Abraham
This is a research study that focuses on online incidents of human rights violations, emphasising relevant case studies and issues that curb fundamental rights and freedom on the digital space.
Mobile for social & behaviour change – Vol 2
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a four volume case studies showing how mobile phones have emerged as an effective mechanism to derive project impacts in areas like- information dissemination, training of frontline workers and interpersonal communication, and project monitoring and tracking. This volume draws case studies from North India- Uttar Pradesh and nearby states.
Mobile for social & behaviour change – Vol 3
By Osama Manzar
This is a four volume case studies showing how mobile phones have emerged as an effective mechanism to derive project impacts in areas like- information dissemination, training of frontline workers and interpersonal communication, and project monitoring and tracking. This volume draws case studies from Tamil Nadu, India.
Mobile for social & behaviour change – Vol 4
By Osama Manzar
This is a four volume case studies showing how mobile phones have emerged as an effective mechanism to derive project impacts in areas like- information dissemination, training of frontline workers and interpersonal communication, and project monitoring and tracking. This volume draws case studies from Hyderabad, India.
Mobile for social & behaviour change – Vol 5
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a four volume case studies showing how mobile phones have emerged as an effective mechanism to derive project impacts in areas like- information dissemination, training of frontline workers and interpersonal communication, and project monitoring and tracking. This volume draws case studies from Madhya Pradesh, India.
Smart Villages
2015
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This paper brings examples of community-led wireless networks that are connecting the communities living in remote and difficult geographical terrains.
Digital Bharat
2014-15
By Saleema Razvi and Syed S. Kazi
This is a compendium that gives an overview of 50 identified digital case practices around insightful deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) tools and applications, including hardware and software, can to a wider extent mitigate or bridge the gulf in expectations and delivery from both users and delivery point of view.
Chanderi :History, Heritage, Culture
By Muzaffar Ansari
Written by Muzaffar Ansari, this book is an attempt to record and consequently preserve the Chanderi’s heritage, both tangible and intangible, which faces a serious threat from unplanned development and other forces of the modern age.
Mobile Phones: A Tool for Social and Behavior Change – Vol 1
2013
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
It is a three-volume white paper series presenting the key areas of emphasis in the growing mobile for development space in India especially how mobile phones are contributing to social and behavioural changes. It emphasis on the limitations as well as the scope to expand the social space with rising mobile density.
Mobile Phones: A Tool for Social and Behavior Change – Vol 2
2013
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
It is a three-volume white paper series presenting the key areas of emphasis in the growing mobile for development space in India especially how mobile phones are contributing to social and behavioural changes. It emphases on the limitations as well as the scope to expand the social space with rising mobile density.
Mobile Phones: A Tool for Social and Behavior Change – Vol 3
2013
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
It is a three-volume white paper series presenting the key areas of emphasis in the growing mobile for development space in India especially how mobile phones are contributing to social and behavioural changes. It emphases on the limitations as well as the scope to expand the social space with rising mobile density.
Mainstreaming North East with Connectivity & Access- North East SOcial Impacr Awards
2013
By Syed S Kazi
It is a report of the North East Social Impact Awards 2013 which aims at identifying, recognising and documenting the initiatives by youth led organisations, NGOs, civil society organisations in North East India Region.
Connecting masses – mBillionth Awards
2012
By Osama Manzar
This is a report of 2012 mBillionth awards aimed at recognising innovations in mobile technology and applications serving citizen needs in South Asia.
Mobile for Social Impact India
2012
By Osama Manzar and Laura Turkington
This is a report of awards that DEF facilitated in association with Vodafone Foundation of organisations or initiatives that have instrumentalised mobile phones for social good in fields like health, education, governance, business and livelihood. This is a report of the award function.
Digital Inclusion for Inclusive Growth in North East India- North East Social Impact Awards
2012
By Syed S Kazi
It is a report of the North East Social Impact Awards 2012 which aims at identifying, recognising and documenting the initiatives by youth led organisations, NGOs, civil society organisations in North East India Region.
Pearls of Wisdom – Indian proverbs & quotations
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This book presents a glimpse into the timeless wisdom by listing over 1,000 proverbs and quotations s translated into English from 24 Indian languages.
Empowering Masses Through Digital Innovations – Manthan Awards
2011
By Osama Manzar and the DEF Board
This is a report of 2011 Manthan Awards that aim at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.
mPowering Billions 2011
By Osama Manzar
This is a report of 2011 mBillionth awards aimed at recognising innovations in mobile technology and applications serving citizen needs in South Asia.
Mobiles for Social Impact
2011
By Osama Manzar and Laura Turkington
This is a report of awards that DEF facilitated in association with Vodafone Foundation of organisations or initiatives that have instrumentalised mobile phones for social good in fields like health, education, governance, business and livelihood. This is a report of the award function.
Empowering Women Through Mobile
2011
By Osama Manzar and Laura Turkington
This is a report of the award function that is supported by the Vodafone Foundation and is being conducted under the framework of Manthan awards. what we need is extensive scaling up of these projects, nationwide adoption by government and private sector and active participation of the social institutions to integrate mobile into their daily operations across all sectors targeting women.
Development & Digital Inclusion: Cases from India & South Asia
By Osama Manzar, Ashis Sanyal, Syed S Kazi
This book is an effort to compile the successful deployment of ICT and digital media enabled projects, its impact and learning in the ways it has left an overall impact of the society at large.
dContent- Enabling Development through Digital Content
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a compilation of news, editorials, case stories et al., around digital governance from around the globe.
eUttara -Stories of Digital Empowerment of UP
2014-15
By Osama Manzar
This award book consists of digital innovators and practitioners of Uttar Pradesh and their exemplary works, all contributing towards digital inclusion across the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Digital Green Prakriya (Processing) Fostering Digital Environmental Justice through Community Repair and Reuse Network in India – A Pilot Report
2022-2023
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Despite being the only South Asian country with an E-waste law in place, India is severely lagging behind in formally collecting and handling e-waste in an ecoconscious manner.
Digital Didi- Innovation to Ensure Menstrual Hygiene and Fostering Self-Learning and Entrepreneurship
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This report highlights the key findings from the baseline survey conducted for the Digital Didi Project – Innovation to Ensure Menstrual Hygiene and Fostering Self-Learning and Entrepreneurship in a total of 9 states
Digital Didi- Ensuring Menstrual Hygiene and Fostering Self-Learning through Community Digital HealthPreneurs
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This report highlights the key findings from the baseline survey conducted for the Digital Didi Project – Ensuring Menstrual Hygiene and Fostering Self-Learning through Community Digital Health-Preneurs in a total of 10 states
Advancing Data Justice Research & Practice
2022
By Osama Manzar, Dr. Syed Kazi, Jenny Sulfath & Ananthu R A
Almost into the second quarter of the twenty first century, the widespread level of datafication in our society is very visible.
Digital Empowerment of Tea Tribe: Towards Vulnerability Reduction and Unlocking Opportunities
2021
Dr. Syed Sultan Kazi, Ms. Ritwika Patgiri, Dr. Rajdeep Singha
This report presents about the digital inclusion of the team communities of Assam with an introduction to the vulnerability faced by them and necessary steps in terms of infrastructure and policies to include them in the digital world.
A Baseline Study on Digital Skills for Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods
2021
By Sana Alam
This is a report summarizing the findings to help in guiding the digital interventions planned to build capacities of rural artisans and weavers to improve their livelihoods by DEF and Commonwealth of Learning.
Advancing Digital, Financial Inclusion and Empowerment of the Farm Communities in Assam
2021
By Council for Social & Digital Development and Digital Empowerment Foundation
This report shares about the scope of digitization among the small and marginal farmers of Assam and presents the issues and recommendations to improve their inclusivity in the digital world.
Analyzing the Role of Community Radio in Countering Misinformation at Grassroot Level
2021
By Tarun Pratap
Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) in collaboration with Association for Progressive Communications (APC) in order to counter the misinformation, through its project Developing Rural Ecosystem Against Misinformation (DREAM) developed a pilot based on a hyper-local fact-checking initiative rooted in community-level interventions through Community Radio Stations (CRSs) and digital Community Information Resource Centers (dCIRCs). The project used Community Radios (CRs) as a tool to reach the larger community. This report talks about the project in detail and its impact on the ground.
Axis Bank Progress Report
2021
By Axis Bank and Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a project report of DigiSupport, an initiative of DEF and Axis Bank, aimed to empower financially excluded communities to digital access and consume financial products, services and information through rural digital interventions.
Digital Gap of Bihar and Jharkhand
2021
By Sana Alam
Sana Alam has tried to understand the impact of digital literacy programmes on the rural leadership and entrepreneurship skills especially focusing on women as to how they may be able to become the disseminating points of digital and financial literacy with ripple effects on their bargaining power on acquiring social security benefits.
Understanding Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor Atmanirbhar Nidhi Scheme Among Street Vendors of India
2021
By Anoushka Jha
Anoushka Jha, Research and Advocacy, has
written about the awareness regarding Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor Atmanirbhar Nidhi Scheme amongst the street vendor especially after the nation-wide lockdown due to pandemic cause by Covid-19.
Driving Online Safety and Educational Content Creation
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Ravi Guria and Pankaj Sharma of digital empowerment foundation compiled impact assessment report at the end of phase-1on driving online safety and educational content creation in the view of rising violence, regulation and potential to create far-reaching positive impact through social media.
Roti, Kapda, Makan Ya Internet ?
2020
By Anoushka Jha
Anoushka Jha, Research and Advocacy has analysed a survey conducted by Digital Empowerment Foundation wherein 16098 respondents from 4 states and 51 districts were asked to rank Roti, Kapda, Makan, Employment, Mobile and Internet in order of preference.
Understanding Agriculture and ICT Practices in India
2020
By Anoushka Jha
Anoushka Jha, Research and Advocacy, has tried to understand the existing agricultural practices, agrarian finance, production, storage and distribution of agrarian produce, and their ICT usage and practices based on a survey done in 5 states with 735 people.
GOAL- Evaluation Study
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Evaluation study of DEF’s program GOAL (Going Online As Leaders) which aims to empower young women from the tribal communities to become village-level digital leaders. Launched in February 2019 it has provided digital literacy training and mentorship to 100 women between ages 17 and 26 in five states of India.
Existing Landscape of Sexual Harassment Online
2020
By Vidisha Lal and Anoushka Jha
Vidisha Lal and Anoushka Jha have written on DEF’s survey aiming to explore people’s understanding of cyber bullying, it’s effect on the survivors, the efficiency of the solutions at hand and most importantly, the changes that can be brought about to improve the efficiency of the mechanism to counter cyber bullying
The Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown in Rural India
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
DEF conducted a survey to highlight the issues faced by the people in rural regions due to the lockdown. The survey was conducted across six states in the Hindi belt: Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Shramik Sampark Setu
2020
By Syed Kazi
One of the most affected population groups due to the COVID–19 and subsequent lockdown has been migrant workers, especially those in urban areas across the country, and those of them who returned home. Syed Kazi of DEF explores this humanitarian crisis in terms access to information, facilitation, rehabilitation.
Chronology of Misinformation Report- Hindi
2020
By Osama Manzar and Anoushka Jha
Misinformation has been posing a structural challenge to the society, it even become even more precarious during the COVID––19 pandemic. The pandemic demands scientific temperament, but that has been not the case and various misinformation become prevalent across communities. Anoushka Jha and Osama Manzar of DEF help us to understand various misinformation during the pandemic and its potential harm.
Chronology of Misinformation Report- English
2020
By Anoushka Jha & Osama Manzar
Misinformation has been posing a structural challenge to the society, it even become even more precarious during the COVID––19 pandemic. The pandemic demands scientific temperament, but that has been not the case and various misinformation become prevalent across communities. Anoushka Jha and Osama Manzar of DEF help us to understand various misinformation during the pandemic and its potential harm.
DEF – USIPI Survey Finds Food Shortage and Scare Access to Medical Care in Rural Areas
2020
By DEF and USIPI
The report tries to understand the food shortages and scarce medical supplies in rural India and how people are coping with Covid-19.
Enhancing Livelihoods of Artisans and Weavers in Knowledge Economy
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation & Commonwealth of Learning
India has a rich and vibrant history of craft tradition and craft skills with the textile and handicrafts sector being the second largest employment generator after agriculture. In this context it becomes imperative to understand the sector analysing its different aspects. Anoushka Jha of DEF helps us to do that in terms digital intervention in the sector.
DIGI POSHAN
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The Project report of DEF’s important work in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. DEF aimed to provide an effort to leverage digital technologies and community platforms for improved nutrition standards in India.
Understanding Linkages Between onlien harmful Speech Practices & Offline Violent Action
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This report is a result of grant from Facebook and is based on months long digital ethnography of social media account and discusses the nature of volatile content and hate speech on social media and its linkages to the offline violence taking place in the society.
Improving Livelihoods of Rural Weavers through Digital Training
2020
By Anoushka Jha
Anoushka Jha has written the end-line report which aims to assess the impact of digital skill training provided to rural weavers during Covid-19 and the subsequent change in their incomes.
Factors Determining Access to Public Schemes Information and Entitlement Benefits for the Tea Tribe Community: A Qualitative Study in Assam
2020
By Syed S. Kazi
This report enumerates the factors under sociocultural, socioeconomic and institutional themes that determine access to public schemes information and entitlement benefits for the tea tribe community in Aassm through qualitative interviews.
Endline Evaluation of Soochna Seva
2019
By Ipsos Public Affairs
The endline evaluation report of Soochna Seva is an impact analysis of the program Soochna Seva by IPSOS Research Private Limited. The endline was conducted among 200 end –beneficiaries and 24 stakeholders at the Block level and the Panchayat level.
Green Prakriya- Assessing, evaluating and mapping risks involved in the informal e-Waste sector in India
2019
By Ritu Srivastava
This case studies volume is a means of reflecting on collective experience of 14 major Indian CSOs that worked on the issue of improving last mile access to public schemes information in backward districts in India during 2014-2018, and supported by the European Union in India.
Protecting FOAA Online with Encryption Technologies
2018
By Zothan Mawii
Zothan Mawii has written about the necessity of private and secure communications as a condition for the effective exercise of FoAA. How private and secure communications can be ensured by encryption technologies making the call for encryption crucial.
Kept in the Dark
2018
By Zothan Mawii, Ritu Srivastava, Shivani Lal and Bijo P. Abraham
The paper tries to understand the social and psycho- logical impact of network shutdowns on the lives of people. It has analysed media reports of shutdowns (till August 2017) and conducted interviews in the affected areas of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir to find the inter-link between Internet shutdowns and their impact on the socio-cultural-economic well-being of citizens.
Baseline Study on Smartpur
2018
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
DEF has written the Baseline report of SmartPur in Asoor village and 9 other villages of Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. The study identifies the status of six pillars in hub and spoke villages.
What’s Up, Rural India?
2018
By Udita Chaturvedi
‘What’s Up Rural India’ is a study of WhatsApp consumption and trend patterns in rural India carried out by Digital Empowerment Foundation
Community Networks
2017
By Ritu Srivastava
Access to connectivity is now well recognized as an enabler of socio-economic development, and can help address many of the barriers that presently exist for marginalized members of society. Ritu Srivastava of Digital Empowerment Foundation wrote experiences of India with community networks focussing regulatory, policy, spectrum, and legal challenges and how they affect Indian community networks.
Privacy in India in the Age of Big Data
2017
By Buddhadeb Halder
Buddhadeb Halder has tried to define big data in the Indian context, to further improve the understanding of big data, and help initiate public discourse around issues of privacy in the big data age.
Report: Digital Empowerment Foundation
EDGE Foundation Phase
2017
By Deepali Dharmaraj, Nataasha Southwell and Mansi Thakral
The English and Digital for Girls’ Education (EDGE) programme aims to improve the life prospects of adolescent girls in socio-economically marginalised communities in Bangladesh, India and Nepal where access to education and after-school learning is limited. The report puts light on the impact of the programme and need of educational learning such as English proficiency, digital skills and awareness of social issues in peer-led clubs.
Digiprayas- Digitisation of Villages
2017
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The Project report of DEF’s project Digiprayas aiming to work with communities in 12 panchayats across five states, to help them seek modern forms of banking through the digital medium, by first familiarizing them with the digital interface, and then helping them access digital banking services.
Kaulava- Kollegal, Karnataka: Baseline Survey Report 2017
2017
By Ritu Srivastava and Vivek A.S.
Ritu Srivastava and Vivek A.S have written the baseline survey report to understand the ground situation of weavers in Kollegal.
Anatomy of Virtual Curfews: Human Rights vs National Security
2017
By Ritu Srivastava
Internet shutdown has become pathological response to maintain law and order but, shutting down internet directly infringe on people’s fundamental right to receive and impart information, prevent them from contacting their loved ones during emergencies, and have an adverse impact on the economy. Ritu Srivastava puts light on early warning signs such human rights violations and state violence.
NOFN SPOT STUDY REPORT- Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
2016
By Raina Agarwal and Bijo P Abraham
National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) is an ambitious initiative to initiate broadband connectivity in rural India. Raina Agarwal and Bijo P Abraham help us to envisage envisaged as non-discriminatory access to network which helps to access information through the creation of a robust middle-mile infrastructure for reaching broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats.
Baseline Survey Report Nokia-DEF’s Digital Cluster Programme in Kanchipuram
2016
By Rucha Deshpande and Vivek A.S
Rucha Deshpande and Vivek A.S have written a Baseline survey report on developing a traditional skill-based cluster as an integrated digitally enabled cluster to empower artisans, weavers and entrepreneurs for socio-economic prosperity. The project is being implemented in Kancheepuram district located in Tamil Nadu.
Limiting access restricting expression
2015
By Ritu Srivastava and Niki Shah
Ritu Srivastava and Niki Shah have tried to assess
the states of specific internet rights online, including freedom of expression using APC-La Rue Framework.
Digikala report – Struggling to make a life
2015
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
DEF’s report on its project Digikala in Barabanki which involves inclusive and decentralized use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in critical aspects of cluster development, especially to improve and scale up weaving skills, designs, marketing and entrepreneurship, besides creating sustainable livelihood options for youth in the clusters.
Overcoming Challenges in Weaving through Technology
2015
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This report underlines the impact of DigiKala, – a Digital Empowerment Foundation in partnership with Microsoft Corporate Citizenship collaborative initiative – which primarily involves inclusive and decentralised use of ICT in critical aspects of cluster development, especially to improve and scale up weaving skills, designs, marketing and entrepreneurship, besides creating sustainable livelihood options for youth in the clusters.
Study TATA-MIT Education Initiative
2014
By Shahid Ahmad and Rucha Deshpande
The TATA Trust and MIT University, USA collaborated to develop an educational program for high schools and B.Ed. colleges in three states of India using modern educational technology and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Shahid Ahmed and Rucha Deshpande after studying their initiative, highlights challenges and some moving recommendations.
ICTs and Environmental Sustainability: Mapping national policy contexts India baseline study
2011
By Syed S. Kazi & Divya Menon
DEF in partnership with Association for Progressive Communications (APC) conducted a baseline study on the ICTs and its negative impact on the environment and ecosystem. With the growth of e-waste in India, the study aimed at developing understanding around ICTs’ sustainability and a way forward for the civil societies for ICTs’ management.
From Commitment to Excellence- A narrative of two decades of digital journey
2022
By International Research Visitor
Project Update: Samarth SoochnaPreneur & Digital Academy
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Digital Excellence Report
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Project Interim Report- Chirala
Fishing Community Project
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
DLC Annual Report
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Barefoot Wireless Engineers: Using Human Networks to Grow The Internet
2021
By Internet Society
An idea expands from a single community to a web of engineers, connecting thousands to opportunities
Soochna Seva- Final Narrative Report
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of the Soochna Seva project which was active between 2014-18 which presents detailed narration about the activities, involved teams and partners.
STEM FOR GIRLS
2021
Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report about the initiative aimed to improve education and career pathways for girls in schools and shares about the activities, testimonials, engagement and impact of the project that took place between 2019-21.
COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Stigma & Discrimination Communication Campaign
2021
An initiative of COVID-19 response
Samarth SoochnaPreneur
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a narrative report, 2020-21, of the Samarth SoochnaPreneur project in collaboration with Equally Able aimed at empowering the disabled population of rural India in enhancing their livelihoods.
Samarth Goal Project Report
2021
Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of Samarth GOAL project which was a digital skilling and mentorship initiative that seeks to identify and mobilise 10 renowned people from differently able populations, who are working for the betterment of people with disability.
Community Radio in India: Unsung Heroes in the time of Covid-19
2021
By Ritu Srivastava
Community radios in India, with their presence in the media landscape for over 15 years, have indeed come of age.
Community Networks: Documenting and Celebrating Wireless Barefoot Engineers
2021
By Asheef Iqubbal
Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) has been working on digital access, governance and information poverty by instrumentalising Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for decades now.
A Report on Digital Literacy and Vocational Program for the Youth of Budgam District, J&K
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) continuing its mission to bring digital inclusion a reality, together with School for Rural Development & Environment (SRDE, as a local parter), started a digital literacy center at Arizal village in Budgam district, Jammu & Kashmir.
Success Stories from Digital Sarthak
2021
By Sujith Ail
Digital Sarthak is a national digital entrepreneurship and empowerment programme of Digital Empowerment Foundation supported by USAID and DAI and this paper
has documented some success stories
The Digital Efficacy Of Women Micro And Nano Entrepreneurs Across India
2021
By Anoushka Jha
Anoushka Jha in this report has attempted to understand the current patterns of usage of digital tools amongst women entrepreneurs, their familiarity with financial tool and overall financial literacy, their existing business strategy and lastly their economic situation post lockdown.
SMARTPHONES & DIGITAL SCRIPTS: Overcoming Literacy Barriers
2020
By Osama Manzar and Kriti Singh
The report has used case studies to highlight that a people using smartphone and digital technologies defy the traditional definition of calling them illiterate as they are able to operate digital tools with efficiency.
Digital Skilling of Rural Women Entrepreneurs in the time of COVID 19
2020
By Tarun Pratap
Tarun Pratap in this report has written on the impact of digital skill building training on the rural women entrepreneurs.
DEF’s Covid-19 Relief initiatives as a Digitally-Enabled Humanitarian Organisation
2020
By Kriti Singh
This report summaries the work done by DEF during the first wave of pandemic by implementing the Digital Emergency Relief Programme in 89 underserved districts located in 20 states of India.
Precarious Labour, Economic Inequality and Inadequate Social Protection in India
2020
By Asheef Iqubbal and Anoushka Jha
Asheef Iqubbal and Anoushka Jha have written this article which is a product of relief services provided by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) near the KMP Highway and the conversations that the staff had with migrant workers passing by. The aim of this article has been to understand the precarity that circumscribed the lives of this labour force and how progressive policy-making should include greater legal safeguards for this section of the population.
Understanding Institutional AI: Sectoral Case Studies From India
2020
By Anulekha Nandi
Anulekha Nandi has written the report aiming to form
the foundation for DEF’s sectoral deep dives and empirical social research in this area in contributing towards gap analysis, rights-based implications of automated decision-making systems, and working to mainstream a business and human rights framework within policy – making around emerging technologies.
Between Rights And Risks: Life And Liberty In An Internet Dark Kashmir
2020
By Safwat Zargar
Safwat Zargar, a Srinagar based independent journalist, reports how longest Internet shutdown in Kashmir has impacted various realms of lives of people living in Jammu and Kashmir.
Building Participatory Institutions for Public Service Delivery through Access to Information in Rural India
2019
By Anulekha Nandi
Anulekha Nandi in this paper has discussed the strategies to overcome barriers of access to social protection using lessons from DEF’ s integrated access to information and micro-social entrepreneurship programmes.
Digital Citizen Summit -2019
2019
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The DCS 2019 report presents in a comprehensive manner the details of the event that built on the issue of (mis)information in India.
A Last Mile Access to Information Initiative
2019
By Aparna Priyadarshi
This report primarily has tried to assess the extent of gender inclusion in welfare scheme service delivery by SoochnaPreneurs and the demand for varying types of welfare schemes by women in particular.
Social Media in a Networked World
2019
By Osama Manzar and Udita Chaturvedi
Osama Manzar and Udita Chaturvedi have written about the need and benefits of adoptions of digital tools by civil society organizations which will improve their visibility and efficiency.
Community Network Exchange Report 2018
2018
By Udita Chaturvedi
The Community Network Exchange of 2018 focussed on identifying synergies between community networks and community radios in promoting public Wi-Fi access in Asia Pacific countries, this report documents the events, learnings shared knowledge produced.
Information Disorders: Disrupting Digital Citizenship Event Report 2018
2018
By Anulekha Nandi
DEF and the Internet Society (ISOC) organized the third Digital Citizen Summit from 1-2 November 2018 at India International Centre in New Delhi with the support from Mozilla and UNESCO. With the objective to find a solution to bridge the digital divide, find ways to extending access to information for the underserved, and create a platform for youth, women and social media enthusiasts to raiseawareness about internet rights, digital literacy, and digital security.
Digitalisation Cost benefit analysis of digitisation interventions in Andhra Pradesh
2018
By Ritu Srivastava and Eshita Mukherjee
DEF in this paper evaluates the costs and benefits derived from connecting the unconnected GPs through Non-Optical Fibre Network and Connecting rural households to Broadband using the Non-Optical Fibre Network infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh
Benefits and costs of digitisation interventions in Rajasthan
2018
By Ritu Srivastava and Eshita Mukherjee
DEF in this paper evaluates the costs and benefits derivedfrom connecting the unconnected GPs through Non-Optical Fibre Network and Connecting rural households to Broadband using the Non-Optical Fibre Network infrastructure in Rajasthan.
Internet Saathi Performance Report 2018
2018
By Balram Keshari, Irfan Khan, Saili Saha and Sharada Kerkar
Balram Keshari, Irfan Khan, Saili Saha and Sharada Kerkar have assessed the Internet Saathi programme, the aim of which was to train rural women to provide digital and Internet literacy in two states – Bihar and Madhya Pardesh in the year 2017.
Chanderiyaan: Weaving Digital Empowerment into the Indian Handloom Industry
2018
By Bishakha Majumdar, Sriparna Basu and Shilpi Jain
Bishakha Majumdar, Shilpi Jain and Sriparna Basu of FORE School of Management traced DEF’s history and digital interventions like Chanderiyaan and how such interventions have been proven instrumental in transforming Handloom industry.
Digital Safarnama
2017
By Sharada Kerkar
This is a personalised note about various trainings that were conducted by DEF for tribal youth across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.
SAFA Network- Internet Access for urban poor living in Bhola Nagar Slum, Hyderabad
2017
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
DEF deployed its W4C initiative in Hyderabad’s Bhola Nagar via SAFA organisation and provided digital literacy to women in order to improve their livelihood.
Digital WOMEN of Rural India
2016-17
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
It is a documentation of rural women and how digital literacy changed their lives.
Barefoot & Connected: Socio-behavioural impact of wireless broadband & digital intervention in a village campus
2016
By Udita Chaturvedi
DEF has analysed how the people of Tilonia are using the wireless Internet connection at Barefoot College.
Digitally Enabled Report- 2016
2016
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a five-part video series highlighting the role of the Internet and technology in people’s daily lives that aims to bridge the knowledge gap between policymakers and end users. The series is produced by the Alumni of US Government sponsored Exchange Programs in collaboration with Digital Empowerment Foundation and the US Mission to India.
Transforming Public Libraries – Stories of Reinvigorating Reading Spaces
2015
By Dr. Syed S Kazi and Dr. Neena Jha
The brochure presents case studies of public libraries projecting how libraries have the potential to become central places for learning, innovation, and community gathering.
Post event report- Social Impact award 2015
2015
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
It is a report of the North East Social Impact Awards 2015 which aims at identifying, recognising and documenting the initiatives by youth led organisations, NGOs, civil society organisations in North East India Region.
Communities, Engagement, Libraries – A collection of case stories from across India
2015
By Dr. Syed S Kazi and Dr. Neena Jha
Dr. Neena Jha and Syed Kazi have complied and analysed the public libraries spanning across India as a public and democratic space within community landscape.
No Profit High Impact report
2015-16
By Arjun Sen
It is a report of 2015 4th e-NGO awards of Indian and International level civil society organisations documenting the digital impact they have been instrumental in disseminating.
Mobile Phones in India: Mapping across the Formal/Informal Divide
2013
By Anne Stevens
Anne Stevens for Digital Empowerment Foundation
analysed the landscape of mobiles in India and mapping the formal and informal divide.
Connecting remote communities
2014
By Arjun Sen
Arjun Sen writes this report on how Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and the Internet Society (ISOC) jointly launched the Wireless for Communities (W4C) initiative in October 2010, which involves deploying line-of-sight wireless technology and low-cost WiFi equipment which utilise the unlicensed 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz spectrum bands to create community-owned and operated wireless networks.
Wireless- A case book for communities
2013
By Ritu Srivastava
DEF along with Ford Foundation throws light on on Technical and Policy Consultation focusing on empowering rural communities of India through unlicensed (free) spectrum.
A case study on Digital Empowerment Foundation’s Chanderiyaan Project
2012
By Ramendra Singh and Pratik Modi
Ramendra Singh of IIM (Calcutta) and Pratik Modi of IRM (Anand) conducted a case study on DEF’s flagship programme – Chanderiyaan.
NGOs empowered- Stories of NGOs of using ICTs for Impact
2012
By Osama Manzar and Devendra Singh Bhadauria
Osama Manzar & Devendra Singh Bhadauria complied a
set of stories of NGOs that have utilised ICT for greater impact on society.
Submission to the ‘Global Digital Compact’
2023
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
A Report on Leave No Voice Behind
2023
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Community Assessment on Internet Shutdowns in India
2022
By Tuisha Sircar
‘Brief of CSO Partners’ Consultation For ‘EU ROADMAP FOR CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT IN INDIA (2022-2027)’
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation and Council for Social and Digital Development
APC and DEF submission to the ITU Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet)
2021
By Association for Progressive Communications and Digital Empowerment Foundation
Draft Policy Paper and Action Plan on Circular Economy in Electronics and Electrical Sectorin India
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Digital Empowerment Foundation organized a panel discussion based on a policy paper and action plan publishedby Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) on the issue of e-waste. This document outlines the entire panel discussion.
COWIN- An Exclusionary Vaccination Process By Design?
2021
By Sana Alam and Asheef Iqubaal
This report critically evaluates the Cowin portal and its role in facilitating in vaccination against Covid-19. How the portal itself when created and used becomes exclusionary for a vast majority.
The Second Wave of Covid-19 Misinformation
2021
By Tarun Pratap and Anoushka Jha
The saga of misinformation and fake news didn’t stop spreading, rather the second wave saw a different kind misinformation being peddle across platforms. The research paper has analysed various mis/disinformation prevalent during the second wave of Covid-19.
The New IT Guidelines- Privacy censored
2021
By Tarun Pratap and Sana Alam
Tarun Pratap and Sana Alam have critically analysed Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules 2021
FAQs/Dummies Guide on Information Technology
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Tarun Pratap has created a FAQ or a dummies guide on Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Understanding the Role and Potential of M-Health during Covid-19 Crisis in India- Part 1
2021
By Vidisha Lal
Digital Empowerment Foundation has written a 5-part series on critically understanding the role and potential of m-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Understanding the Role and Potential of M-Health during Covid-19 Crisis in India- Part 2
2021
By Vidisha Lal
Digital Empowerment Foundation has written a 5-part series on critically understanding the role and potential of m-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Understanding the Role and Potential of M-Health during Covid-19 Crisis in India- Part 3
2021
By Vidisha Lal
Digital Empowerment Foundation has written a 5-part series on critically understanding the role and potential of m-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Understanding the Role and Potential of M-Health during Covid-19 Crisis in India- Part 4
2021
By Vidisha Lal
Digital Empowerment Foundation has written a 5-part series on critically understanding the role and potential of m-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Understanding the Role and Potential of M-Health during Covid-19 Crisis in India- Part 5
2021
By Vidisha Lal
Digital Empowerment Foundation has written a 5-part series on critically understanding the role and potential of m-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Protests in the times of social media: A case of farmer’s agitation
2021
By Sana Alam and Asheef Iqubbal
The essay written by Sana Alam and Asheef Iqubbal attempts to explore the role of social media in terms of the mobilisation of protestors, tackling dis/misinformation campaigns, propaganda and the facilitation of the entire against new farm laws.
GLOBAL INFORMATION SOCIETY WATCH 2020
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Anoushka Jha contributed a country report on behalf of DEF. The paper talks about the rise in e-waste and the urgent need to recycle the same and contextualises the role of informal sector waste workers in this process of recycling and policy framework.
Digital Empowerment and Indian Handlooms: Case-based Policy Recommendations
2021
By Bishakha Majumdar, Sriparna Basu, Shilpi Jain
This paper provides a policy framework for the digital empowerment of handloom workers and the digital transformation of the handloom trade. It draws upon the Digital Cluster Development Programme (DCDP) of Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) in three handloom clusters in India
Reclaiming The Narrative: What Farmer Protests and Trolley Times Tell Us About The Media’s Systemic Failure
2021
By Asheef Iqubbal
Asheef Iqubbal has written on the birth of the Trolley Times, a biweekly, community run newspaper initiated by farmers in order to reclaim their discourse.
Food Delivery Workers in India: Emerging Entrepreneurs or Informal Labour?
2021
By Asheef Iqubbal
Asheef Iqubbal in this article has analysed the situation of food delivery workers in India, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
PM Wani: The PCO model of public wi-fi stands to fulfill long pipe dream
2021
By Tarun Pratap
Tarun Pratap writes on the how the continuous advocacy efforts of DEF that resulted in developing PM Wani which is a PCO model of providing access to public wi-fi
Bridging the Digital Divide for girls in India
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3), in association with Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), embarked on a primary survey to understand the yawning digital gap that India’s adolescent girls are faced with, at a time when the country itself is undergoing a heightened interest in and demand for a digital transformation in economy and society.
Why Millions Cannot Claim Emergency Food Rations
2020
By Asheef Iqubbal
Asheef Iqubbal has written on exclusion of people from public distribution system due to technical constraints such as Ration and Aadhar card.
Lockdown Leaves Handloom Weavers Hanging by a Thread
2020
By Asheef Iqubbal
Asheef Iqubbal in this article has written on the situation of handloom weavers and their access to social protection during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covid-19 Lockdown Leaves Delhi Migrant Workers With Neither Jobs Nor Social Security; Experts Blame Political Apathy, Lack of Legal Protection
2020
By Asheef Iqubbal
This report highlights the precarity of workers during the pandemic as scores of migrant workers were forced to leave cities and head towards towns, with no food, transport and social security net.
Response to the Consultation on Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) Services/Internet Services and net Neutrality
2019
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is DEF’s publication presents the organisation’s response to the Consultation on Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) Services/ Internet Services and Net Neutrality.
Submission of Comments on DIPP’s Draft E-Commerce Policy
2019
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted comments/ suggestionson the draft National E-Commerce Policy 2019
Submission to the United Nation’s High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation
2019
By Anulekha Nandi
The report provides an insight into the comments Submitted to the United Nation’s High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation.
Submission of Comments on MEITY’s draft Information Technology [Intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules], 2018
2018
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted comments/suggestions on the draft Information Technology [Intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules] 2018.
Submission of Comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Proliferation of Broadband through Public WI-FI Networks
2018
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted comments on the Consultation Paper on Proliferation of Broadband through Public Wi-Fi Networks.
Understanding the lack of privacy in the Indian Cultural Context
2017
By Osama Manzar and Udita Chaturvedi
This report tries to explore what does privacy mean in the Indian cultural and behavioural context and has been written by Osama Manzar and Udita Chaturvedi.
Building Sustainable Wireless Community Networks: Experiences from India
2017
By Ritu Srivastava
Ritu Srivasatva has written on Wireless for Communities program of DEF and how this program aims to provide affordable, ubiquitous and democratically controlled internet access in rural regions of the country.
Exclusion from Digital Infrastructure and Access
2016
By Eshita Mukherjee, Osama Mazar, Raina Aggarwal and Rajat Kumar
Eshita Mukherjee; Osama Mazar; Raina Aggarwal; and Rajat Kumar have written for India Exclusion Report (IXR) 2016. They have defined digital inclusion as a “wagon to social inclusion that ensures individuals and disadvantaged groups have access to Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the skills to use them to be able to participate in and benefit from an increasingly electronically mediated knowledge economy and information society”.
Submission of Counter-Comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services
2016
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Osama Manzar on behalf of DEF submitted its comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services.
Comments on National Policy of Women 2016
2016
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted counter-comments on the draft National Policy for Women 2016.
Submission of Counter-Comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services
2016
By Ritu Srivastava and Rajat Kumar
The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted counter-comments on the Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services.
Submission of Counter Comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Free Data
2015
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted counter-comments on the Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services.
Shrinking Spaces- Status of Freedom of Association & Assembly in India
By Ritu Srivastava
Buddhadeb Halder of DEF in this paper has explored the issue of privacy in the present big data age, and how big data gathered through ICT tools and social media platforms can be used against citizen.
20 DIGITAL YEARS: A Narrative of Inclusion and Exclusion
2022
By Osama Manzar
Reflecting on 20 years of Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) is like painting a canvas with 20 different colours. The digital space and scenario has evolved, morphed, exploded, imploded, opened up opportunities, restricted freedom of speech, instilled confidence in the ambitious and also stunted growth succumbing to online bullying.
27 Years of Internet in India: Only a Citizen can save the Internet from its Consumer
2022
By Osama Manzar
After completing journalism in 1990, I ended up jobless for more than four years. My survival kit was erratic freelance assignments, and free food supply from the hostel dining halls of Jawaharlal Nehru University, courtesy my friend who was a student there, and who later became my life partner.
Osama Manzar: The man who travelled to 10,000 villages
2022
By Priya Ramani
Manzar has made it his mission to teach Indians to use the Internet and create livelihoods. When Indians termed ‘inspirational’ the story of a girl who climbed up a hill for a signal to access online classes during the pandemic and sat under an umbrella in the sun to study, Osama Manzar shook his turbaned head in disbelief. “It was deprivation news, not inspiration news.”
YOJANA- A Development Monthly
2022
By Osama Manzar, Megha Katheria, Dr Syed S Kazi
Schemes such as JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) Trinity and Digital India marked a watershed moment in the financial inclusion of rural India. The digital push gave a new fervour to making financial and banking services accessible to rural areas.
Digital India’s Success has come out of collaboration
2022
By Osama Manzar
IT was 2003 and Geneva was hosting the first
global summit on using digital infrastructure for serving the development needs of communities. I was in the India Pavilion when Arun Shourie walked in — lean, alert and full of probing questions in an almost journalistic manner.
SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTS ALL OF US: The debate over social media needs to be expanded beyond the policy spheres.
2021
By Asheef Iqubbal
India enacted Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021) on 25 May 2021 that regulates user generated content and is being criticised…
Rural Wi-Fi: Can it be a game-changer for Digital India?
2021
By Osama Manzar, Founder-Director, Digital Empowerment
In 2015, the Indian government announced the launch of Digital India, a set of campaigns and projects that sought to increase digital services and connectivity in the country and use the internet to make government services available to its citizens.
Accumulation of Power and Counter Power Around Internet Regulation
2021
By Asheef Iqubbal
The regulations are an attempt of accumulation of power by the state through: enabling traceability of the content creator; and unchecked power of the government agencies.
We are the digital designers fighting information poverty
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The Legatum Center at MIT has been conducting research on Innovation-driven enterprises (IDE) that are unlocking significant business and societal value by solving systemic problems that conventional business models have not been able to solve.
Osama Manzar and Digital Empowerment Foundation
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The journey and the making of a social entrepreneur and a social enterprise
The story of Digitally Empowered India
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
CSR NGO Box first published this article that talks about the story of Digital Empowerment Foundation, an organisation built over the years to fight information poverty by Osama Manzar.
Solidarity and Struggle for Survival
2021
By Asheef Iqubbal and Sana Alam
Sana Alam and Asheef Iqubaal of Digital Empowerment Foundation have pictorially documented the farmers agitation at Ghazipur, Singhu, and Tikri borders –– starting from 30 December 2020 to 06 January 2021.
Internet to the Rescue of Unscripted Languages
2020
By Osama Manzar, Udita Chaturvedi and Abner Manzar
Osama Manzar, Udita Chaturvedi and Abner Manzar on behalf of Digital Empowerment Foundation submitted a response to the Best Practice Forum (BPF) on the issues and challenges faced by India on the preservation of local language, history and/or cultural heritage.
Community Networks: A boon in times of pandemic and lockdown
2020
By Kriti Singh and Osama Manzar
The document entails the story of a rookie computer engineer who brought digital entrepreneurship and wireless technologies to his tribal village in India to connect people living in remote areas through Community Networks.
The Impact of Coivd-19 on the Weavers of Musiri
2020
By Abner Manzar and Shreya Sehgal
Abner Manzar and Shreya Sehgal have written about the impact of COVID-19 on the weavers of Musiri, a weaver cluster in Tamil Nadu. The cluster has been a part of Digital Empowerment Foundation and Mphasis’s initiative of digitally empowering the marginalised community of Trichy weavers.
CIVIL SOCIETY – A phone is not enough
2020
By Osama Manzar
Osama Manzar has written about thinking beyond just having smartphones on the lines of why and how connectivity can be made more meaningful and dwells into the questions of treating the internet as a basic right.
The binary Language to unbind digital literacy for illiterate
2019
By Ritu Srivastava
Ritu Srivastava, Research and Advocacy, has written this paper which takes a long term and meta-level view of existing literature and narratives from the ground that explore the journey of digital literacy for first generation technology learners.
How a Script-Agnostic Media Can Empower The Illiterate
2019
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Osama Manzar has written about how people without basic primary education and mostly living in rural and tribal belts of India can engage in online activities with the help of digital tools such as mobile phone.
Module 1: Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar
2023
Dushyant Arora
This module was developed to facilitate trainings with journalists and looks at why is privacy a fundamental human right and why is the protection of digital privacy important .
Module 2: Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar
2023
Dushyant Arora
This module was developed to facilitate trainings with journalists and looks at why are journalists the particular target of threats, including to their privacy.
Module 3: Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar
2023
By Dushyant Arora
This module was developed to facilitate trainings with journalists and looks at what are some practical steps journalists can take to protect their devices from attacks on their digital privacy.
Module 4: Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar
2023
Dushyant Arora
This module was developed to facilitate trainings with journalists and looks at the Information Technology Act, 2000 (‘the IT Act’).
Data Rights for Communities- Hindi
2020
By Asheef Iqubbal
The presentation has been written to provide and create a sense of understanding amongst communities about data, how it is collected and used and the rights associated with it.
Data Rights for Communities- English
2020
By Asheef Iqubbal
The presentation has been written to provide and create a sense of understanding amongst communities about data, how it is collected and used and the rights associated with it.
A Course for Barefoot Wireless Engineers- Setting up Wireless Networks Module I
2019
By Vasanta Akondy and Ritu Srivastava
This is a two-part course this first part covers some basic concepts related to planning the setup of wireless networks such as conducting a location survey and selecting the required hardware.
A Course for Barefoot Wireless Engineers- Setting up Wireless Networks Module II
2019
By Vasanta Akondy and Ritu Srivastava
This is a two-part course; this part of the handbook covers details of actual installation and maintenance of wireless networks.
Keeping Yourself Safe Online-Volume 1
2018
By Zothan Mawii
The has been compiled keeping in mind the security and safety needs of secondary school and college students. This kit contains basic online safety measures that should be adopted by everyone to have a safe and secure online experience.
Gender Sensitisation Handbook
2018
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The handbook provides the reader with information and difference between gender and sex with an objective to identify socially constructed norms and biological features.
State Public Library Conference 2018
2018
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The report is made on a two-day State Public Library Conference (SPLC) organised by Indian Public Library Movement (IPLM) and Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF). The theme of the conference was ‘Transforming Public Libraries in India: Opportunities and Challenges in Digitising Information, Content and Services’.
Digital Security Training Kit
2018
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The toolkit provides the reader with an overall understanding and steps they can take for securing themselves online.
Rural Information Society & Economy: Leveraging Citizen Need through Information Enterprise, Digital Skill & Entrepreneurship
2017
By Digtial Empowerment Foundation
This is a consultation report prepared by DEF for Soochnapreneurship 2017 event organised at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 3rd August, 2017 by Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) in partnership with Qualcomm’s Wireless Reach programme.
SoochnaPreneur Model
2023
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Digital Skilling: Educate, Reach, Act and Engage
2023
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Skillbot_PCF10 Presentation
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
SkillBot is a one of a kind telegram based chatbot designed for building digital capacities for people in rural areas of India to enhance their livelihood. An interactive chatbot has been customised for this purpose to engage people. It is a self-learning-based learning management system customised for this purpose to engage people with multiple mediums of the learning experience.
Digital Sarthak
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Digital Sarthak is a national digital entrepreneurship and empowerment programme. The main objective of the project is to increase the digital capacity of Women entrepreneurs and community development organizations in marginalized and underserved regions in India by providing them with digital up-skilling support and strengthening their ability to engage on digital and ICT policy issues.
Using Skill Chatbot to Address India’s Skill Shortage and Unemployment
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation and Council for Social and Digital Development
DEF Digital Village Model
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
A-Code Brochure
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Art, Culture, Heritage & Rights
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
GOAL_PCF10
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) initiated the program Going Online as Leaders (GOAL) —to connect urban women who are leaders in their fields with rural women online to provide them guidance and support in digital skills to bridge the information gap. The program helps enable these girls to gain exposure and access to digital tools and learn about its uses and the latest technology innovations that are happening around the world.
Women Entrepreneurship Programs of DEF
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Women Empowerment Programs of DEF
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
MeraApp – Information and Management Solution
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This presentation briefs about the functions, services provided, impact and features of the MERA App.
Skill Bot- Digital Skilling Chatbot for learners, entrepreneurs, and livelihood
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This presentation helps in understanding the need and uses of Skill Bot that helps entrepreneurs to learn digital skills in an interactive way.
Digital Empowerment Foundation Per Pillar Presentation
2022
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This covers the broad spectrum of work done by DEF along with the impact stories of some of the projects.
Social Media for Democracy Workshop for MLAs
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This presentation guids MLA’s to transition into digital media by eliciting the ways and areas of administration that can be covered using social media platforms.
The eHeritage Project
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This presentation introduces and promotes The eheritage Project.
Innovation & Opportunities in Rural India
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This presentation shares the stories of the innovations and opportunities shared by people from rural India.
Limited Access Restricting Expression
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This presentation talks about the report of the activities of Advocacy for Change through Technology in India, Pakistan and Malaysia (IMPACT) Project of the Association of Progressive Communications (APC) under the Internet Rights project at DEF.
Education & Empowerment
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This presents about the projects which are enabling people to access better health, education, skills and livelihood opportunities through digital literacy and digital tools.
Feminist Leadership Program
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The presentation shares about the activities under Feminist Leadership Program training module.
Digital Cluster Development Programme
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This presents the handloom clusters spread across India under Digital Cluster Development Programme (DCDP).
Digital Cluster Development Programme Brochure
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This brochure presents the handloom clusters spread across India under Digital Cluster Development Programme (DCDP).
SBCC South Asia Regional Conversation Summit 2021
2021
By Dr.Syed S. Kazi, Arpana Sharma, Shruti Narula & Misbah Rashid
Presentation at SBCC South Asia Regional Conversation Summit 2021 on the topic of “Risk Communication and Community Engagement for COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour
Information Poverty
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This presentation shares about the CIRC model adopted by DEF in fighting information poverty.
STEM FOR GIRLS
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a presentation about the initiative aimed to improve education and career pathways for girls in schools and shares about the activities, testimonials, engagement and impact of the project which took place in the states of Assam and Telangana.
Mobile Ecosystem
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Mobile Development Ecosystem
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Poster to represent the ecosystem of mobile development.
Digital Library Program in Telangana
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a project presentation of Digital Library Program in Telangana aimed at strengthening public libraries as inclusive & dynamic spaces digitally.
DEF Gets Justice Sunanda Bhandare Award
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Babita Saini of Digital Empowerment Foundation is the recipient of the 2021 Justice Sunanda Bhandare Award for its crucial role in helping to bridge India’s digital gender gap at time when the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has made online learning and access to digital information a necessity in a country where only one in four citizens has access to a digital device.
Empowering people @ the Edge of Information
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Poster to represent the beneficiaries of the projects of DEF.
CIRC Ecosystem Chart
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Chart to represent the ecosystem around CIRC aimed at fighting information poverty.
DEF Models
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This document gives a glimpse of all the foundation projects of DEF like Smartpur, IP Ville, etc.
DEF Project Information
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The presentation highlights the various pillar and projects of DEF and their presence across the country.
WhatsNext- Building Community Entrepreneurship and Fighting Misinformation
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
WhatsNext is an initiative of WhatsApp India and DEF that has emerged out of their partnership in ‘Fighting Fake News. WhatsNext aims to enhance the reach of WhatsApp as a primary tool of productive communication and constructive capacity building across India by driving the entrepreneurial efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises through WhatsApp Business and reaching out to over 50,000 people with the knowledge and awareness to fight misinformation towards building an evolved digital society.
WhatsApp “FAKE NEWS’ & “MISINFORMATION”
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This kit is designed to give the trainers along with the community people, students, police officials and NGOs, a framework to deal with fake news, misinformation and disinformation. The activities are contextual and extremely practical and participatory.
WhatsApp Deck- Fighting Fake News
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
With an aim to curb fake news, in partnership with WhatsApp, Digital Empowerment Foundation conducted community-based workshops to create awareness among users about the need to verify the information before sharing it.
Digiprayas – Digitisation of Villages
By Axis Bank and Digital Empowerment Foundation
DigiPrayas, a joint Initiative of Axis Bank and Digital Empowerment Foundation, aiming to empower communities in rural India with financial-digital literacy like e-banking, ATM etc. across 5 states in India.
DIGI SUPPORT
By Axis Bank and Digital Empowerment Foundation
DigiSupport is a project initiated by Axis Bank and Digital Empowerment Foundation to empower financially excluded communities to digitally access and consume financial products, services and information through rural digital interventions.
What is the future jobs
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The chart represents the status of employment in India supported by statistics.
Establishing Women Soochnapreneur
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The presentation elaborates on the process of building Soochnapreneurs which involves their identification, enrolment, and engagement with the community. The presentation also explains the need, types, areas of training and capacity building of the Soochnapreneurs in a sustained mode including identifying community needs, planning and design for services, outreach and engagement, promotion, visibility, running NANO SP centres, documentation & reporting.
Historical Milestones of Public Engagement Policy Service since 2002
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This documents DEF’s milestone works, initiatives, areas of research as well as the ever-spanning network of countries DEF is associated with, ever since the foundation has started.
What, why and how for establishing a smart village ecosystem
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The chart represents the ecosystem around the six pillars established to set up a smart village.
Equally Able Academy of Digital Empowerment Foundation
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a presentation discussing the framework of the Equally Able Academy of Digital Empowerment Foundation.
In My fight for Independence- My Rights Uphold My Self-Confidence
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a small representation of a women’s journey in her fight for independence.
Barabanki Site Report
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Presents the assessment of the site in Barabanki to set up a centre.
Digital Empowerment Foundation Board Meeting Deck
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Presentation enlisting the projects under DEF umbrella presented at the board meeting of 2020.
Bridging the Digital Divide for Adolescent Girls in India
2020
By Centre for Catalyzing Change and Digital Empowerment Foundation
The flyer shares about the survey, findings and recommendations to help in bridging the digital divide for adolescent girls in India.
CIRC Digital Village Ecosystem
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The posters represent the CIRC activities to set up smart villages.
Digital Empowerment Foundation Brochure
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The poster represents the establishment of six pillars of digital empowerment across India.
Rural Connect DEF Deck
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This document while putting out the data describes the realities of digital India and how DEF has been working to connect the Rural India.
MIL for oralilliteratenon-script
2019
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The presentation elaborates how Media Information and Literacy can be imparted to people without basic literacy. It also introduces the START kit, a digital learning toolkit that has been designed for first generation technology users to promote digital inclusion and fight information poverty
Fighting Fake News Whose Responsibility is it?
2019
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
DEF conducted a survey of 3000 people across 11 states to analyse the mis/disinformation and fake news disorder that has been aggravating through messaging applications, focusing primarily on WhatsApp.
Soochna Mera Haq Hai
2019
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
There are 650,000 villages in India that are governed under almost 250,000 Panchayats or village councils, which further come under 6,000 blocks and 672 district — 250 of which have been classified by the government…
15 Wild Years
2018
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a depiction of 15 wild years of DEF.
Establishing Smartpur- Part 1
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Is a holistic guide for creating smart villages
with an aim of describing the digital ecosystem of a village and map an integrated design procedure for building a smart village.
Establishing Smartpur- Part 2
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The module elaborates the entire methodology
of setting up an entire village ecosystem. With an aim to make the reader identify the social problems, needs of the community, project planning, identifying human resources, establishing the centres, training and capacity building of rural entrepreneurs, documentation & reporting and community engagement.
Establishing Smartpur- Part 3
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The third module elaborates the entire process of service delivery under six pillars of education, health, governance, finance, livelihood and entertainment. Along with detailed description what each pillar aims to achieve, what are its infrastructure and tool requirements and lastly the methodology behind implementation.
Rural Dip – Rural Digital Immersion Program
2017
By Ravi Guria & Udita Chaturvedi
Rural Digital Immersion Programme or Rural DIP is an initiative of the DEF that has been conceptualised to share experiential learning from rural India with people across the globe. This programme facilitates an individual or a group of people to take a “dip” into the lives of rural citizens and their culture in regions where digital interventions have made an impact.
Seelampur – India’s Digital Trashcan
2017
By Osama Manzar
This report shares about the stories of the dwellers of Seelampur and elicits the impact of the recycling and disposal of electronic gadgets on their lives.
Adhiyan Tribal
2016
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a representation of the Adhiyan Tribal community.
Transform Your Outlook with Crowdsourcing and the Crowd Economy
2016
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
DEF’s presentation at the Crowd SOurcing Summit held at Tehran in 2016.
Threats or Opportunities for Local Languages, Culture & Knowledge?
2015
International Language Development Conference 2015 By Osama Manzar
India’s Million Missions: 75 Years of Service Toward Nation-Building
2023
The authors of this report are drawn from the CSO COALITION@75 and have devoted pro bono time for it, in the best traditions of civil society and have been involved in the research and writing of the various sections of this report.
Non-profit crisis leadership during the COVID-19
pandemic in India and the United States
2023
By Katherine Rosenbusch, Krishna Gajjar, Aindrila Chatterjee & Sonal Soni
During extreme crises, governments’ capacity is compromised, and they need support from non-profits, especially to reach the vulnerable and marginalised. Our qualitative study examines leadership response to the COVID-19 pandemic at four US and Indian nonprofits; they paused their mission-related activities to focus on crisis leadership tasks.
Gamified Inoculation Against Misinformation in India: A Randomized Control Trial
2023
By University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge in collaboration with Digital Empowerment Foundation have created a Hindi translation of the Join this Group game.
Internet Control and the Rise of Discrimination in India
2023
By Centre for Development Policy and Practice in collaboration with US- India Policy Institute
The Impact of Recruiting Women Entrepreneurs on Reducing Mission Drift
2022
By Centre for Development Policy and Practices
A research & study based on the “Soochnapreneur” Program of Digital Empowerment Foundation, a social enterprise in India
Digital Divide
2022
By Oxfam India
The world is rapidly undergoing a digital transformation. India too has been catching pace. There have been growing efforts to make the country “digital” under a flagship programme of the Government of India called “Digital India”.
Last Mile Connectivity-Addressing the Affordability Frontier
2022
By Asian Development Bank
Jonathan Brewer consults for the telecommunications industry on the design, build, and operation of broadband, public safety, and Internet of Things networks. His customers are operators, governments, nongovernment organizations, and users throughout the Asia and Pacific region.
Global Information Society Watch 2021-2022
2022
By Association for Progressive Communications and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
Why Did Santoshi Die?
2022
By H. Masud Taj
H Masud Taj is based in Canada, he’s an Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism and continues his practice as an architect, poet, and calligrapher. His writings can be accessed on Academia. He has created calligraphic poetry and art word tributing 20 years of DEF’s work and also attributing Osama Manzar for his dedication to social work and achieving feet of travelling more than 10,000 villages in India and across the world.
In his tribute, he converted one of the columns written by Osama Manzar.
Small and Medium Enterprise Digitization In Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India
2022
By MITRE
ALFAAZ KI MEHFIL
2022
By Centre for Development Policy and Practice
DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE
Issues, Practices and Innovations G20 Compendium of Case Studies
2022
By G20 and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
HEROES AMONGST US: Inspirational Stories of Ordinary People who Achieved Extraordinary Success!
2022
By Dr. Amit Nagpal
Digital Leapfrogs- How technology is reshaping consumer markets in India
2022
By Vijay Mahajan- Author of Africa Rising
North Stars
2022
By Naghma Mulla
Osama is a round peg in a world of square holes. An explorer and a maverick, there is so much to learn from this free spirit who did not toe the line and carved his own path.
Women’s Empowerment Collectives and the Power of Digital: A Research and Learning Agenda
2021
By BBC Media Action
BROADBAND BITS & BYTES: A BIF Bi-Annual Communique
2021
By Broadband India Forum
The Wi-Fi Enabler for an Inclusive Internet By Broadband India Forum
The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2021
2021
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This report focuses on the gender gap observed in the usage of mobile phones and the consequent negative and disproportionate impact. In the wake of the pandemic, this report sheds light on improving the gender equality that has been gained over the years by emphasizing on access to mobile phones to women.
Encryption Pros and Cons
2021
By Adeola Akinla, Ayesha Gulley, Kirthika Selvakumar, Zoe Tilsiter
This is a report on discussing the pros and cons of double edged encryption technology. While this technology makes is easier to establish confidentiality and security, it serves as an easier way to conceal criminal activity which has to be considered by the policymakers in bringing new regulations.
Fast Forward to Civilizational Greatness: Agenda for India
2021
By Pradip N. Khandwalla
This book encompasses a holistic approach towards achieving a great civilization with anecdotes from exceptional NGOs which have contributed to fill the gaps of growth and excerpts from history that proudly boasted about the richness of human civilization.
Asia-Pacific Regional Community Networks Summit 2021
Innovating Policymaking to Connect the Unconnected
2021
By Internet Society
It is a summary report of Asia-Pacific Regional Community Networks Summit 2021 which reflected on the progress since the 2019 Summit in improving connectivity, and the use of Community Networks (CN) as a complementary access solution in the Asia-Pacific region. COVID-19 has made this work especially pressing.
Rural Broadband Policy Framework: Connecting the Unconnected
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) in partnership with DEF, among others, developed a Rural Broadband Policy Framework (RBPF) which aimed to provide guidance to address the persistent ‘Digital Divide’, with a focus on the context and challenges faced in rural areas.
Challenges of Last Mile Connectivity
2019
By Osama Manzar, Zothan Mawii and Udita Chaturvedi
This is a policy paper that advocates the usage of strategies and technologies that must be implemented to achieve the last mile connectivity by 2024.
Artificial intelligence: Human rights, social justice and development
2019
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Anulekha Nandi, Research and Advocacy,
contributed to GIS Watch 2019 edition on the contextual parameters and questions around evaluating institutional application of AI and developing ethical governance frameworks.
Building Sustainable Wireless Community Networks: Experiences from India
2017
By Ritu Srivastava
Ritu Srivastava, Research and Advocacy,
contributed to Alliance for Affordable Internet’s (A4AI) 2017 affordability report shedding light on DEF’s initiative — W4C, aiming to provide affordable, ubiquitous and democratically controlled internet access in the rural regions of India.
Disrupting Democracy
2017
By Osama Manzar and Udita Chaturvedi
Osama Manzar – Founder, Director and Udita Chaturvedi contributed to Bertelsmann Foundation’s series called ‘Disrupting Democracy’ aimed at arguing how connecting India institutionally would not only open access to information, rights, entitlements and possibilities of a better livelihood but also enables behavioural and social changes in communities.
Community Connectivity: Building the Internet from Scratch
2016
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Ritu Srivastava, Research and Advocacy,
contributed to Community Connectivity: Building the Internet from Scratch, an annual report of the UN IGF Dynamic Coalition on Community Connectivity, exploring the efficacy of creating wireless community networks (WCN), Rural Internet Service Provider (RISP) or Community-based Internet Service Provider (C-ISP) as well as the possibility of policies in wide spreading information infrastructure for the larger masses of the country.
Kurukshetra- A Journal on Rural Development
2016
By Osama Manzar, Rajat Kumar, Udita Chaturvedi
DEF examined the budget 2016-17 with respect to the focus on the intersection of ICT tools and social welfare schemes as well as other sectors of Education and Agriculture.
Unlicesed Spectrum
2014
By The Centre for Internet & Society
This is a set of policy recommendations demonstrating the importance of unlicensed spectrum as a medium for inexpensive connectivity in rural/remote areas and source of innovation by serving as a barrier-free and cost-effective platform.
Mobile Effect
2013
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Vodafone Foundation in association with DEF began the ‘Mobiles for good’ initiative under which NGOs/initiatives that have been working towards instrumentalising mobiles for social good, were provided with crucial grants for improvising and scaling up.
ICTs and Environmental Sustainability: Mapping National Policy contexts India baseline study
2011
By Syed S. Kazi & Divya Menon
DEF in partnership with Association for Progressive Communications (APC) conducted a baseline study on the ICTs and its negative impact on the environment and ecosystem. With the growth of e-waste in India, the study aimed at developing understanding around ICTs’ sustainability and a way forward for the civil societies for ICTs’ management.
Net Chakra
2011
By Osama Manzar and Madanmohan Rao
Osama Manzar – Founder, Director along
with researcher Madanmohan Rao edited a series of papers on the ‘15 years of Internet in India: Retrospectives and Roadmaps’.
Red Rickshaw Revolution
2013
By Abner Manzar
Abner Manzar documented interactions-stories of eleven inspirational women across 5 states of India in the Red Rickshaw Revolution report that was initiated by Vodafone Foundation in association with Digital Empowerment Foundation.
Digital Solutions for Community
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
2023
We at the Digital Empowerment Foundation have been striving to eradicate information poverty in India for the last 20 years.
Mobiles for Sustainable Social Change
2023
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
We at the Digital Empowerment Foundation have been striving towards eradicating information poverty in India for the last 20 years.
Power of People and Participation
2023
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
We at the Digital Empowerment Foundation have been striving towards eradicating information poverty in India for the last 20 years.
eNGO Challenge Award 2020-21
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
It is a report of 2020-21 e-NGO awards of Indian and International level civil society organisations documenting the digital impact they have been instrumental in disseminating.
Social Networks for Public Good- SM4E Awards
2020-21
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
It is a report of 2021 social media for Change Awards that honour and recognise those social media initiatives that are using social media technology as a catalyst for communication, spreading awareness and fulfilling their mission and needs of social development.
Mobile: An Instrument of the Masses-mBillionth Awards
2020-21
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
It is a report of 2021 mBillionth awards that recognises excellence in mobile innovations for development.
Mobile First
2020
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
South Asia has the largest unconnected population across the globe. In the contemporary world, with mobile phones emerging as the first choice for digital
initiation, the South Asians are gradually marking their presence on the world map as the largest ‘mobile first’ population to join the netizens.
The Culture of Mobile
2018
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
As 2016 inched closer to 2017, India boasted over 600 million unique MOBILE users, making it the second largest mobile market in the world. Looking forward, India aims to add 330 million more mobile subscribers by 2020.
Mobile Society
2017
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
South Asia has the largest unconnected population across the globe. In the contemporary world, with mobile phones emerging as the first choice for digital initiation, the South Asians are gradually marking their presence on the world map as the largest ‘mobile first’ population to join the netizens.
CIRC Award 2016-17
2016-17
By Sharada Kerkar and Adya Parashar
Community Information Resource Centre (CIRC), the flagship programme of Digital Empowerment Foundation, envisions creation of information empowered, equitable communities by providing digital access to information, knowledge and online services.
Nations of Innovations
2016-17
By Osama Manzar
With the motto ‘Inform, Communicate and Empower’, Digital Empowerment Foundation aims to find sustainable ICT solutions to overcome information poverty in remote and rural locations of India
Digital North East for Digital India
2016
By Dr Syed Kazi, Rimi Phukan
There are plenty of digital innovations happening in the North East region, with the coming-of-age bright entrepreneurial minds, putting together brilliant ideas for implementation in the region and ensuring a technical facelift to the development process of North East India.
Paving the way for Digital Innovation – SM4E
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Transforming lives- Manthan Awards
By Arjun Sen
2015
This is a report of 2015 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.
Local heroes of Governance
You, Me & Mobile – mBillionth awards
2015
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2015 mBillionth awards aimed at recognising innovations in mobile technology and applications serving citizen needs in South Asia.
Social Impact awards 2015
2015
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of Social Impact Awards 2015 that celebrates and recognises best practices and innovations in social and community development in North East India.
District Collector as Digital Champions
2015
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report on Digital Champion Awards 2015 that seeks to recognise and encourage district level administrators in India who champion the cause of using ICT tools to ensure citizen empowerment and better delivery of government services to citizens in day-to-day governance.
Celebrating Digital Information tools
2014-15
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
It is a report of 2014-15 e-NGO awards of Indian and International level civil society organisations documenting the digital impact they have been instrumental in disseminating.
Information Innovation Empowerment
2014-15
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2014 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.
Digital Dividends South & West India
2014-15
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2014 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.
mBillionth Cellular Impact 2014
2014-15
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2014 mBillionth awards aimed at recognising innovations in mobile technology and applications serving citizen needs in South Asia.
eUttara -Stories of Digital Empowerment of UP
2014-15
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This award book consists of digital innovators and practitioners of Uttar Pradesh and their exemplary works, inclusion across the State.
Social Media @ Your service – SM4E Awards
2014
By Osama Manzar
It is a report of 2014 social media for Change Awards that honour and recognise those social media initiatives that are using social media technology as a catalyst for communication, spreading awareness and fulfilling their mission and needs of social development.
Digital Innovations for citizen services in north east
Mobile for social Impact 2013
2013
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of Social Impact Awards 2013 that celebrates and recognises best practices and innovations in social and community development in India.
Mainstreaming North east with connectivity & access
2013
By Syed S. Kazi
It is a report of 2013-14 e-NGO awards of Indian and International level civil society organisations documenting the digital impact they have been instrumental in disseminating.
Mobility- South Asia’s Book Mobile Innovations – mBillionth Awards
2013
By Osama Manzar
This is a report of 2013 mBillionth awards aimed at recognising innovations in mobile technology and applications serving citizen needs in South Asia.
Digital Dividends of Asia – Manthan Awards
2012
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2012 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.
Connecting masses – mBillionth Awards
2012
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2012 mBillionth awards aimed at recognising innovations in mobile technology and applications serving citizen needs in South Asia.
Mobile for Social Impact India
2012
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of Social Impact Awards 2012 that celebrates and recognises best practices and innovations in social and community development in India.
Digital inclusion for inclusive growth in North east India
2011
Empowering Masses Through Digital Innovations – Manthan Awards
2011
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2011 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.
mPowering Billions – mBillionth Awards
2011
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2011 mBillionth awards aimed at recognising innovations in mobile technology and applications serving citizen needs in South Asia.
2011
Mobiles for Social Impact
Empowering Women Through Mobile
2011
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report on Women & Innovation for Mobile Awards 2011 that aims at recognising the programmes that connect the women in India.
Mantra for Inclusive Development – Manthan Awards
2010
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2010 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.
Mobile for Masses – mBillionth Awards
2010
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2010 mBillionth awards aimed at recognising innovations in mobile technology and applications serving citizen needs in South Asia.
e-content for Development in South Asia – Manthan Awards
2008
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2008 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.
e-content for Development in South Asia – Manthan Awards
2008
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2008 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.
e-content for Development in India – Manthan Awards
2007
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2007 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.
India’s Best e-Contents – Manthan Awards
2005
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This is a report of 2005 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.