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L. Vedavalli
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Access to information and technology and the willingness to learn seem to depend on various factors. Social and cultural dimensions also play a very debilitating role when it comes to the issue of equitable access. The worst affected in this scenario are the women, as traditional norms and cultural upbringing hinder their self-development the most.
Background
Empowering the rural communities by making specific and need-based information accessible to them is the major goal of the Information Village Research Project of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). It was launched in 1998 in Pondicherry, a Union Territory in South India. This project operates by setting up Village Knowledge Centres (VKC) in the
rural areas of Pondicherry.
The VKCs that currently have been set up in 11 villages, operate on a hub and spokes model (Fig 1). This model can be better understood as a network of villages with computers, printers, telephones, very high frequency (VHF) duplex radio devices and other accessories, with one of the villages, Pillayarkuppam, acting as the nodal point.
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Figure 1: Hub and spokes model
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In addition to the Pillayarkuppam VKC, the hub centre is connected to ten other villages. The primary occupations of people of these villages vary between agriculturist, fishing communities and wage labourers.
Community ownership of the VKC and a participatory approach to daily operations are important elements of this project. The villagers are consulted before setting up a VKC. It is made clear during the discussions and consultations that the community is responsible for providing an accessible rent-free space, free electricity and for identifying volunteers to operate it. In turn, the project would provide the essential infrastructure like computers and connectivity. The volunteers would be trained in computer applications and data collection. Generally, there are more than two volunteers per VKC
and the project emphasises that half of these volunteers be women. This is done with a view to facilitate social and economic empowerment of the rural women and the community in general.
Relevant information or content is developed for every VKC through in-depth consultations with the community members. The hub centre has the necessary telephone equipments with which the staff works on the information that is uploaded in the network. The VKC is not only a knowledge centre but also a value addition centre, which generates a number of databases to provide information on government entitlements/ schemes on agriculture, livestock, health, educational opportunities, employment news, market rate for farm products, audio clips related to agriculture, education, market prices, rural technologies, weather including wave height alerts for fishermen, and other information that is useful for the rural communities. It may be mentioned here that a considerable part of information is accessed from local sources.
Updating the content is an important function of the VKC programme. The hub centre updates the content and sends it to the VKCs.
The main emphasis of this project has been on the economic empowerment and social advancement of rural communities chiefly, women. The presence of women volunteers proves to be very useful in reaching out to the community in general, mainly the female population of different age groups. The project draws women with varying levels of literacy, a few are literate though most have minimum or no education.
Impact of the project
The women volunteers have made an appreciable impact on their communities. In tradition bound village societies, it is not easy for a woman to come forward to take up any responsibility or activity at the larger village level. Despite such restricting backgrounds, the women have taken up this responsibility and are discharging their functions efficiently. They were quick to understand and grasp the concept behind the VKC. The women volunteers realise that this initiative is not only about skill development but social empowerment. They appreciate the fact that they are not just volunteers but role models for the other women in their communities.
The communities in general, recognise the services of the women volunteers particularly in VKCs like Embalam, Kalitheerthalkuppam and Kizhur. The Embalam Centre is managed entirely by a vibrant group of women volunteers. Their education level ranges from fifth standard to high school level. Interactions with women volunteers, particularly in the centres at Embalam and Kalitheerthalkuppam, clearly revealed that the project has undoubtedly helped them get over their inhibitions and improve their self-confidence. They take part in meetings and large gatherings, and share experiences with the audience with ease and confidence. They have become capable of claiming the benefits of government welfare schemes for their villagers and offering counseling to their friends and relatives in solving/tackling household problems. The self-help group members have attended various training programmes organised by the project with the help of other organisations and institutes. The volunteers motivate other women members of the community to attend the training programmes for their benefit. This reflects a dimension of their social empowerment. Economic empowerment of the volunteers has also been possible wherever there has been opportunity for them to provide services like typing applications, taking printouts, charging for video games etc.
VKCs and gender
The number of women users of the VKC remains low especially when compared to their male counterparts. Even in the centres run exclusively by women, the women users are not as many. The volunteers feel that by taking some effective steps, this gap could be narrowed down. It appears that the prevailing social conditions in a few villages do not engender social empowerment of women. A volunteer from the village of Periyakalapet, pointed out that even though there were many college-educated young women in her village, they were unable to make use the VKC facilities due to family and societal restrictions. The fishermen communities expect women, even the educated ones, to remain at home, without any social interaction.
In a strange paradox, it is acceptable if these very women go to other towns to sell their fish, as this is simply considered to be their economic contribution to the family. Only in the case of other activities like going to knowledge centre, or for any other reason, particularly where men are present, the society imposes rules on the freedom of young women. There is opposition when women take part freely in any village level activities. In order to avoid criticism and ridicule, the young women themselves implicitly follow the societal norms. The internalisation of these values has been so strong that women seldom break away from these norms.
However, the younger generation seems keen to break the shackles. A 10th grade student from the same fishing village, offered an innovative solution to the problem of accessibility. Set a time slot for women, she said and added, Women volunteers can actively encourage more women members to utilise the knowledge centre. When asked how computer education would help married women who stayed home, she said, They will be a source of inspiration to their children. Computer education will also give them the satisfaction of knowing something useful.
It is interesting to note that a few young women graduates from Periyakalapet showed great concern for the development of their community. They also expressed a desire to improve their abilities and skills using the knowledge centre as a focal point. One of them mentioned that they could start a literacy programme. Unfortunately they are unable to translate their interests and ambitions into action because they are held back by the prevailing social conditions and norms of the society.
Gender: the flip side
It was observed that when only men or women manage a VKC, certain accessibility problems crop up. In centres like Periyakalapet, Koonichampet and Nallavadu, where men volunteers dominate, it becomes a hurdle for women to access the centre. On the other hand, at the Embalam centre, which is entirely run by women, it appears that elderly and middle aged men do not like to visit. Male members feel uncomfortable while approaching women directly for any assistance. It has also been observed that the illiterate members of the community shy away from coming to the centres as they feel embarrassed to make thumb impressions where they are supposed to sign their name on the visitors register.
In the Kalitheerthalkuppam knowledge centre, the volunteers face a different problem. Here, the village women hesitate to visit the centre if they see the village elders or other men near the VKC. A woman volunteer mentioned that out of great respect for the village elders, who are also often temple trustees, women do not go in front of them or talk in their presence. She says that despite attending the meetings conducted by MSSRF and organising self-help groups, she feels uncomfortable in the presence of the village elders. She says it is all due to the upbringing and cultural norms in the villages. Women feel uncomfortable to look up health related content particularly reproductive and gynecological problems when men are present. Having received the feedback, the project staff is working towards addressing the problems mentioned above.
Conclusion
Access to information and technology and the willingness to learn seem to depend on various factors. Social and cultural dimensions also play a very debilitating role when it comes to the issue of equitable access. The worst affected in this scenario are the women, as traditional norms and cultural upbringing hinder their self-development the most. Their urge to improve themselves and work for the society needs to be capitalised meaningfully. Sustained efforts on the part of the project, the volunteers and other interested women and men would prove to be successful. An increased participation by the women members of the user communities would have a positive impact on the long-term sustainability of the VKCs and also the overarching mission of the Information Village project.
Author: L.Vedavalli is working with the Information Village Research Project of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai, India.
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