Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Panchayat Programme Receives USD 768,930 Microsoft Support

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:39:26 +0000

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) received a software support from Microsoft Corporation worth USD 768,930 for better impact and implementation of Digital Panchayat project is India. The support will facilitate DP programme to provide licensed software(s) to its panchayat centres.

The Digital Panchayat programme is a joint initiative of NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India ) and DEF to provide a digital identity and platform to the panchayats in rural India. The vision of the project is to empower the grassroots panchayats through digital inclusion and providing internet awareness for better workflow. Interactive web portals are issued to the local community through the project and it is maintained by them for a transparent administration. It benefits the community by improving local governance, enquiry and delivery of services, global exposure and Information access to everyone.

The project has currently a strong working base covering over 500 Panchayats across 10 Indian states and is focused on providing the next generation ICT tools accessible to the masses. The software(s) received from Microsoft will be of great help for the project and will help the project sustain and educate more rural population.

India-Baseline-Study

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:32:27 +0000

A new report commissioned by the APC written by Syed S Kazi and Divya Menon of the Delhi-based Digital Empowerment Foundation takes a critical look at what is being done in the country to manage e-waste.
Click to download full Book

Empowering Masses through Digital Innovations

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:50:08 +0000

” In tune with these times, the upcoming Electronic Service Delivery Bill mandates all government organisations
to deliver public services through electronic mode to enhance transparency, efficiency, accountability, accessibility and reliability in delivery of such services.”

“The Manthan Award 2011 nominations process generated 450 plus nominations, and thus, we are now a repository
of more than 2500 best practices across various digital domains including governance, infrastructure, health, culture, business, environment, localisation, science, education, and inclusion.”

Above are the excerpts from the book. To read full book click here

Empowering Women through Mobile

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:56:29 +0000

“No longer just a talking tool, women are using the mobile in a diverse number of ways. to stay safe in times of danger, to keep informed on community matters, to manage their finances, to receive regular updates on critical issues from farming to weather, to access much needed help lines, to learn english and to become literate, the mobile is an enabling device. and this is only the beginning”

Above is the excerpt from the book. To read full book click here

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admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:52:21 +0000

ICTs and environmental sustainability: India baseline study

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:46:16 +0000

In India, the ICT boom in recent years has greatly increased the presence of new dangerous and toxic waste in the environment but no offical policies have been created to deal with the informal disposal of e-waste in the country. This study addresses the need for a consolidated study in India of any sorts to measure the policy trends in relation to environmental sustainability, climate change and ICTs. Read more >>

Internet Rights

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:00:38 +0000

The “Internet Rights” is an initiative through which DEF is consistently making an effort to make Internet as a medium to reach the masses, to create even opportunities and linkages between haves and have-nots so that the grassroots knowledge reaches the economic prosperity and vice versa through information communication technology and digital media.

With its various stakeholders, including APC (Association of Progressive Communications), DEF has published the report in GIS Watch focused on ‘The Internet, Human Rights and Social Resistance’ to address the issue of Internet and making it as a basic human right in India.

While addressing this issue at national-level, initiated a thought-process within the organization, and it took a shape in a form of DEF’s objective and now it is a part of the organization mission to advocate Internet as a basic human rights.

DEF & APC’s Recommendations on the Second Universal Periodic Review of India

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:38:58 +0000

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and the Association for Progressive Communication have jointly submitted their submission for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) India Human Rights Council. DEF is majorly concerned with the human rights, internet rights and making the internet an effective tool to access right to information in India. DEF believes that the internet plays a major role in accessing information and thus a tool for social and economic development. This submission outlines India’s progress and specific areas of concern: information technology (IT) law and policies, the right to information and internet access and internet governance. Four recommendations are made for follow-up and implementation in the UPR cycle. With a reference to our jointly submission of UPR review, and aligning with the points of government’s second Universal Periodic Review, we (DEF & APC) note that the draft Government of India report has serious and significant gaps in relation internet related human rights issues. The absence of any mention of the internet in relation to the right to information weakens the Government’s report.

Download Submission Report in English