Author: Rajat Kumar, Research Associate, Digital Empowerment Foundation “The internet is a crucial medium not just for personal communication or news and information, but for political participation and civic engagement. The struggle for internet freedom is consequently inseparable from the struggle for freedom of every kind.” [1] With digital connectivity on the rise and more…
INTRODUCTION India is home to 1.2 billion and is projected to be the third largest economy in the next decade.1 India also accounts for 33 percent of the total population living in poverty, according to the UN2 and spends 1.3% percent of its GDP on health compared to 3 percent by China and 8.6 percent…
Alwar, Rajasthan—Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) Internet Rights team visited the Community Information Resource Center (CIRC) at four villages in Alwar district of Rajasthan—Vijay Mandir Palace, Mulla Ji Ka Vas, Chandoli, Mungaska, and Mala Khera—to study the linkages between Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) and human development and the role CIRC’s can play in enhancing access…
Project Name: Bell Bajao Initiated by: Breakthrough Bell Bajao is an online campaign programme initiated by Breakthrough, a non-profit organization, in August 2008 that urges local residents to take a stand against physical violence. Breakthrough is an India and U.S.-based international human rights organization that mainstreams discussions about violence against women and girls, and its relationship to HIV/AIDS, by…
Project Name: ICTs Help Battered Dowry Victims Rebuilt their Lives Initiated by: Nari Raksha Samiti Nari Raksha Samiti (NRS), an Indian social welfare organization devoted to improving the lives of poor and destitute women. Founded 50 years ago, the organization specifically helps women who have been victims of dowry and end up losing even shelter of themselves. Knowing the…
Project Name: Bhoomi Initiated by: Karnataka State Govt. Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) movement in rural villages of Rajasthan inspired the Karnataka State Government to launch a project called Bhoomi in mid-1999, which aimed to digitise land and revenue records. The Department of Revenue in Karnataka State has digitized 20 million rural land records of 6.7 million landowners…
Project Name: Jankari Initiated by: Govt. of Bihar JAANKARI is a unique initiative by the Government of Bihar to expand the base of right to information (RTI) access by citizens. The centre has been innovatively and effectively employed in making RTI Act ore broad based and accessible to the common man by bridging the literacy and digital…
Project Name: Rampant Corruption Initiated by: MKSS (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan) The first “right to information” movement started in India as a social resistance movement in order to bring transparency in village accounts for minimum wages in rural India. Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) in rural villages of Rajasthan in the early 1990s started as…
Project/Organization Name: FightBack Initiated by: Tech Mahindra Ltd. About the project: FightBack mobile application (www.FightBackMobile.com) is aimed to facilitates women’s safety so that they can move freely anywhere with confidence, keeping their friends and family stress free. Mobile phone was the obvious choice to deliver this solution to the users because of its reach, capabilities and accessibility.…
Project/Organization Name: Himbhoomi Initiated by: Department of Revenue HP Government & NIC Hiamchal Pradesh About the project: Himbhoomi – the computerisation of land records in Himachal Pradesh started as a replica of existing Record of Rights (RoR). This unique software automatically keeps land records. The software is under implementation in 12 Districts and 77 Tehsils. The software…