WSIS Grassroots Caucus WSIS Grassroots Caucus Consultation Consultation

10-1210-12thth July 2005 July 2005National Agricultural Science National Agricultural Science

Complex, New DelhiComplex, New Delhi

Outcome of three day Outcome of three day ConsultationConsultation

PARTICIPATIONPARTICIPATION

• Participants were from villages of 15 Participants were from villages of 15 states/UTs. states/UTs.

• A small group from Nepal and Sri Lanka A small group from Nepal and Sri Lanka was also present.was also present.

• Mixed group in case of literacy, language, Mixed group in case of literacy, language, culture etc. but having good culture etc. but having good understanding, based on their experience, understanding, based on their experience, on various development issues.on various development issues.

• Gender balance in participation.Gender balance in participation.

WSIS & MDGs

..• Identification of development issues Identification of development issues by the participantsby the participants

•HealthHealth

•EducationEducation

•EnvironmentEnvironment

•Gender Gender

•Livelihood. Livelihood.

Grassroots Voices :Grassroots Voices :• Lack of appropriate information/practices in all spheres, Lack of appropriate information/practices in all spheres,

health, education, livelihood, environment and gender.health, education, livelihood, environment and gender.

• Non-availability of quality human/infrastructural services.Non-availability of quality human/infrastructural services.

• Discriminatory practices based on caste, gender and Discriminatory practices based on caste, gender and disability etc.disability etc.

• Accessibility and affordability in relation to services. Accessibility and affordability in relation to services. Need to reach the unreached and meet the unmet Need to reach the unreached and meet the unmet needs. needs.

• Discrimination against women at all stages of life.Discrimination against women at all stages of life.

• Women’s economic contribution towards Women’s economic contribution towards family/public/nation has no co-relation with her family/public/nation has no co-relation with her overall status.overall status.

• Lack of knowledge/skills to cope-up with changing Lack of knowledge/skills to cope-up with changing trends in all spheres, specially on livelihoods.trends in all spheres, specially on livelihoods.

• Water and sanitation is a major concernWater and sanitation is a major concern

• Global warming and disaster management were Global warming and disaster management were issues highlighted.issues highlighted.

• Lack of skill enhancement in all sectors.Lack of skill enhancement in all sectors.

• Accessibility to and cost of credit is a Accessibility to and cost of credit is a problem .problem .

• Education has not yet been perceived Education has not yet been perceived as a fundamental right. Need to as a fundamental right. Need to address in a holistic manner.address in a holistic manner.

Suggested solutions :Suggested solutions :

• People-centric education in all spheres.People-centric education in all spheres.• Youth should be involved in all programmes.Youth should be involved in all programmes.• Regular refresher training for all service Regular refresher training for all service

providers.providers.• Role of governance at the micro-level .Role of governance at the micro-level .• Statutory committees at panchayat level for Statutory committees at panchayat level for

linkage/management and monitoring mechansim. linkage/management and monitoring mechansim. • Legal reforms in favour of women related to their Legal reforms in favour of women related to their

right to property, equal wages etc to be made right to property, equal wages etc to be made and implemented. and implemented.

• Effective delivery of government schemes and support Effective delivery of government schemes and support services.services.

• Creation of a Livelihood Security Fund. Creation of a Livelihood Security Fund.

• Promoting use of organic pesticides and enforcement of laws Promoting use of organic pesticides and enforcement of laws against banned pesticides.against banned pesticides.

• Need to transfer Research and Development from lab to land.Need to transfer Research and Development from lab to land.

• Community ownerships of forests, promotion and protection Community ownerships of forests, promotion and protection of agro-forestry. of agro-forestry.

HOW TO MOVE FURTHER?HOW TO MOVE FURTHER?• Capacity buildingCapacity building• Community needs assessment was Community needs assessment was

emphasised. emphasised. • Community participation and networkingCommunity participation and networking• Coordination among various Coordination among various

stakeholders Govt./Non-Govt. at all stakeholders Govt./Non-Govt. at all levels.levels.

• Creating effective implementation, Creating effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation mechanism monitoring and evaluation mechanism with bottom-up approach.with bottom-up approach.

The role of ICT enabled knowledge centres at the grassroots to

accelerate the MDGs

InformationInformation & Communication tools currently in & Communication tools currently in useuse

• Print media: Newspapers, Pamphlets, Posters, Print media: Newspapers, Pamphlets, Posters, Booklets, Newsletters.Booklets, Newsletters.

• Traditional Media: Street Plays, Puppet Shows, Traditional Media: Street Plays, Puppet Shows, Folk Media, Meetings.Folk Media, Meetings.

• Interpersonal communication still seen as an Interpersonal communication still seen as an important source of information sharing, with important source of information sharing, with Gram Sabhas and SHGs playing a significant role.Gram Sabhas and SHGs playing a significant role.

• TelephoneTelephone• Mobile phonesMobile phones• Cable TVCable TV• Radio/ Community RadioRadio/ Community Radio• Wireless technologyWireless technology• Computers & AccessoriesComputers & Accessories• InternetInternet

ICT Tools in DevelopmentICT Tools in Development

Usage of ICTs for reaching the Usage of ICTs for reaching the unreachedunreached

• Radio-ham radio and Wireless for Radio-ham radio and Wireless for community awareness, education, community awareness, education, training and empowerment.training and empowerment.

• Telephone help-lines could be Telephone help-lines could be reached to un-reached for knowledge reached to un-reached for knowledge and counseling on sensitive issues.and counseling on sensitive issues.

• Cable TV as a source for knowledge Cable TV as a source for knowledge sharing but recurring cost was the sharing but recurring cost was the issue.issue.

Issues underpinning WSIS plan of action

Knowledge Centres :Knowledge Centres :Content : Content for knowledge Content : Content for knowledge

•Blend of local and global knowledge which should be Blend of local and global knowledge which should be collected, collated, conceptualized and computerized as per collected, collated, conceptualized and computerized as per local needs.local needs.

•The whole process should be supported by a well-designed The whole process should be supported by a well-designed network of human resources/institutions/organizations etc.network of human resources/institutions/organizations etc.

•Local language was a concern. Local language was a concern.

•Mandatory provision of contents by all government Mandatory provision of contents by all government departments.departments.

•CBOs should collect the local contents.CBOs should collect the local contents.

ConnectivityConnectivity

• Wireless is the most preferred option, Wireless is the most preferred option, but it should be based on the but it should be based on the geographical specifications.geographical specifications.

• Dial-up options were suggested Dial-up options were suggested again based on the viability.again based on the viability.

Capacity buildingCapacity building• Capacity building is needed at various levels in relation to publicizing, Capacity building is needed at various levels in relation to publicizing,

mobilizing, creating awareness and sensitizing communities. mobilizing, creating awareness and sensitizing communities.

• Nominations should be from all the existing groups in the villages.Nominations should be from all the existing groups in the villages.

• Need to develop training modules based on the whole mechanism Need to develop training modules based on the whole mechanism keeping in view various aspects, for effective running of the tele-centers.keeping in view various aspects, for effective running of the tele-centers.

• Refresher courses from time to time.Refresher courses from time to time.

• Data-bank of local resource persons to be contacted at the time of need.Data-bank of local resource persons to be contacted at the time of need.

• Online and regular face-to-face interface for learning and sharing Online and regular face-to-face interface for learning and sharing experiences. experiences.

• Responsibility and the funding mechanism was a question.Responsibility and the funding mechanism was a question.

Care, control and Care, control and managementmanagement

• CBOs, SHGs, Panchayats should have the ownership supported CBOs, SHGs, Panchayats should have the ownership supported

by outside agencies, may be government/non-government. by outside agencies, may be government/non-government.

• Village Knowledge Centre Management Committees for day-to-Village Knowledge Centre Management Committees for day-to-

day running of the centers.day running of the centers.

• Funding for infrastructure could be provided by Funding for infrastructure could be provided by

government/private agencies as a grant but for recurring cost government/private agencies as a grant but for recurring cost

could be met by the community.could be met by the community.

• A Steering Committee from the Alliance for supervision of the A Steering Committee from the Alliance for supervision of the

whole mechanism for smooth running of the tele-centers.whole mechanism for smooth running of the tele-centers.

CoordinationCoordination

• Coordination mechanism has to be built-in for content Coordination mechanism has to be built-in for content

generation, connectivity, capacity building and care & generation, connectivity, capacity building and care &

management.management.

• Youth groups, mahila groups already existing in the villages Youth groups, mahila groups already existing in the villages

should be involved in the process of content generation and should be involved in the process of content generation and

dissemination and effective utilization of the tele-centres.dissemination and effective utilization of the tele-centres.

• Hub and spokes model should be promoted.Hub and spokes model should be promoted.

• Coordination committees should be formed at various levels for Coordination committees should be formed at various levels for

follow-up mechanism.follow-up mechanism.

• A few services should be charged and a few should be free.A few services should be charged and a few should be free.

• Four types of knowledge centers were discussed Four types of knowledge centers were discussed – Community-run tele-centers Community-run tele-centers – Entrepreneurship modelsEntrepreneurship models– Government-run tele-centersGovernment-run tele-centers– Panchayat-run tele-centersPanchayat-run tele-centers

• The community-run tele-centers were The community-run tele-centers were unanimously accepted.unanimously accepted.

The MODEL KNOWLEDGE CENTRE