ICT in poverty reduction

30.09.2005 The STS (Science, Technology and Society) Forum held in Kyoto during September 11-13 deliberated on many societal issues that could be addressed by science and technology. While no earth-shaking declarations were made, the conference brought together outstanding global talent across diverse disciplines, who identified six key issues.These key isuues were sustainability, life sciences,ICT, capacity building, science and technology for human security and finally on the new frontiers opened to science and technology.

30.09.2005 A Village Knowledge Centre by name, Vivekanand Gramin Gyan Kendra was opened at the Dhandhar village near Pilani on Sunday 25th September 2005.

30.09.2005 At the inauguration of the South Australian Film Festival at Chennai,South Australia Premier Mike Rann said the two States were working on forging a memorandum of understanding in various areas.

29.09.2005 This APDIP e-Note illustrates the benefits that ICTs can have for SMEs; discusses why countries should be proactive in embedding ICTs into SME policy; and gives examples of how Asian governments have encouraged and enabled SMEs to use ICTs.APDIP e-Notes are brief snapshots that present analyses of specific issues related to ICTs for sustainable human development in the Asia-Pacific region. This online series introduces readers to the who, what, where, why and how of a wide range of current issues related to ICTs such as Internet governance, ICTs and poverty alleviation, e-governance, free and open source software, and many others.

29.09.2005 At a cost of just 4 paise per litre, rural India can now have access to safe drinking water without the use of electricity.A high-technology membrane filter, developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), can remove bacteria as well as viruses from water.

28.09.2005 At the teleconference held at CII, CK Prahalad, renowned management guru,opined that it is possible to connect rural markets with the global marketplace.

28.09.2005 Data on pattadar passbooks in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh will be computerised by November 15, said Collector, G. Asok Kumar.

27.09.2005 The Union Minister of State for Urban Employment and Poverty alleviation, Ms Selja, has urged the agricultural scientists to develop technology to benefit the small and marginal farmers.

27.09.2005 What role do ICTs have in alleviating poverty? This is one of the many questions that will be fired at a distinguished panel on 30 September 2005 at the International Telecommunication Union Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The debate will be broadcast on BBC World Television on 22 October 2005.

26.09.2005 Deputy minister of communications, Roy Padayachie of S.Africa has recently launched a telecentre at the Qalabotjha multi-purpose community centre (MPCC) in the Free State.

26.09.2005 A new project managed by AfriAfya and supported by Exchange is using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to communicate about health and development.This health communication project engages the knowledge of marginalised people in Kenya. The main emphasis is on analysing what information can be exchanged to improve the communities' situations.

23.09.2005 Microsoft Corporation India Private Limited today announced a strategy aimed at supporting the Ministry of Communications and IT, Government of India, in its efforts to address the issue of the digital divide in India.

22.09.2005 The first World Congress on Communication for Development is being organised by the Government of Italy, the World Bank's Development Communication Division, in collaboration with FAO and the Communication Initiative in March 2006 in Rome, Italy.

21.09.2005 As part of its initiative to empower rural women using information technology as the means, the district administration has taken up the task of organising IT-enabled training programmes for select self-help group members in the district so that they have basic knowledge in cyber operations.

20.09.2005 FAO's Executive head, Dr Jacques Diouf, announced in New York that he was determined that FAO should move fast down the track of UN reform.

19.09.2005 ITC echoupal has been awarded the Develoment Gateway award 2005.

05.09.2005 India is soon going to have a network of post-graduate teaching in food and agriculture through open distant learning (ODL) programme as part of a new initiative of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).