New Delhi: OneWorld South Asia under the aegis of Mission 2007 would like to introduce the concept of 100,000 Telecentres and the opportunities that exist for content developers/providers in the immediate future. The event will be held on 30 June and 1 July 2005 at India International Centre in New Delhi.
One of the practical ways of using ICTs, we feel, is to set up Telecentres (Rural Advocacy Centres/Information Kiosks) that contain information relevant to the needs of the rural/urban communities. Such Telecentres would facilitate Communities access to information/facilities/services without their having to waste any time in procuring/accessing the same.
To the worker at the community level, having to procure such information would mean in real terms, having to drop out of work for at least a day,
often forgo a days wages
and the resultant food for him/her self and the family. For this purpose there is an urgent need to digitise a content repository for community needs to reach out to rural/urban India at large, as well as tailor the data to the respective needs of the communities.
Given this backdrop, OWSA with more than 500 organisations including NGOs, donors, multilateral organization, private sector, media, academicians and governments as its partners, attempts to provide a database that answers the needs of the grassroots and enhances their quality of life. However, it can soon be realised the task is enormous while the need is immediate
so we do what we know best
call on our partners who have amongst them a pool of resources, which we could then collate in a content repository for community needs.
This definitely would be an ongoing process, as data/information is always being made available. As a first step, we would like to invite you to join us in a two day Content for Community Needs Programme, agenda attached, where we could together combine our resources and pool information which could be put to the use of those who need it the most. This is expected to build capacities and explore alternative tools and techniques for empowering people at the grassroots.
Complete credit would go to the source of information, and OWSA merely provides the platform for its dissemination. A line in response confirming your interest and participation would be most appreciated.
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