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ABHIYAAN abhiyaanmagazine.com

‘INTERNET SAATHI’ WILL BRINGS REVOLUTION IN THE VILLAGES

IS JNU HEADING TOWARDS ZERO SEMEMSTER?

COVER STORY NARESH MAKWANA

‘INTERNET SAATHI’

WILL BRINGS REVOLUTION IN THE VILLAGES

ABHIYAAN * 27 FEBRUARY 2016 *abhiyaan.com

COVER STORY

No one gets wondered by the girls of metro cities, driving a four wheeler or chatting continuously

on the smart phone, but what happens when a woman of the family comes out to a street of an

interior village of Saurashtra with a special bicycle without bothering of the elders sitting on the

cots in the court of the mansion? Moreover, what if she is having a latest smart phone in her hand

and other women crowded around her to know about the smart phone or an internet? This is not

just about the women empowerment, but a matter of „Digital India‟ triggering in the villages. An

exclusive story on the ground work being performed by the „Internet Saathi‟ appointed to build the

project meaningful in its genuine sense…..

It has been exactly a four „o clock in the break

of the day. It's time to start Bhajans on

Ranchhod Bhagat‟s radio. The lights on the

house of Mohan Maharaj – a priest performing a

dawn prayer at a Ramji temple, is also still off.

In fact, in that respect is no work left for which

Anitaben has to get up so early in the forenoon.

Simply, this is Anitaben, begin to pumping the

milk from the buffalos by waking up at sharp

four in the break of the day, wake up and fed

them. Gave up the milk at cooperative dairy.

Took away the butter from milk. The Sun comes

up high till she stopped up with breakfast for the

children and her father-in-law. Till eight in the

morning, Anitaben was free from all the

domestic chores and get ready and comes away

with her unique bicycle standing in the recess of

the mansion and directed towards a friend‟s

home. Monghiben is her best ally. She directly

reached her house with her cycle as per the talks

held with Monghiben two days back.

Monghiben comes out of the home as soon as

she heard a call and told her „wait, I am

coming‟, and necessitated a troll to the

neighborhood. Within ten minutes, a crowd of

approximately ten to twelve women turned

around at Monghiben‟s residence. Most of them

are married and studied till fifth standard. They

all are brought out here because of the insistence

of Anitaben.

After ensuring everybody has come Anitaben

took out the two big smart phones, two tablets

and power bank from the box on the bicycle.

She switched on one smart phone and kept it

with her and give the other one to Monghiben

and other ladies to have a look. Anitaben started

an internet on the phone that was with her and

cause everybody to have a glimpse of Lord

Shiva directly from Somnath. All ladies were

amazed to see Lord Shiva‟s live glimpse on the

mobile instead of TV. After that Anitaben show

them many matters like how to make Samosa,

what new blouse designs are there in the

marketplace, a Punjabi recipe for the vegetable?

And taught Monghiben and all other ladies to

search some things on the smartphone.

Anitaben teaches these illiterate women

continuously for three days to use a smartphone

and internet and after that she takes an online

exam of all the women through an installed app

on the same smartphone. It is verified by taking

these an exam of these adult females in three

steps whether they have found out to operate the

smart phone and internet and if any question left,

then the same will be taught to them once more.

This is a scenario of the last coastal village

Panadara of Gir-Somnath District of Gujarat

state and Anitaben received this strong point of

underlining the female power from an aspiring

project “Internet Saathi” run by Google India

and Tata Trust.

What is “Internet Saathi” project?

An invocation was called up to connect

country‟s rural areas with the internet along with

all the Government offices and administrative

offices under the “Digital India” project that was

launched by the Prime Minister on 1 July, 2015.

Regardless of that, Google India and Tata trust,

took the task in their hand to connect the women

to the internet in Indian villages. In this era of

the Internet and smart phone to bring the women

forward, the search giant Google, in partnership

with the Ratan Tata Foundation launched a

project called “Internet Saathi” in July 2015.

COVER STORY

This Group of Gujarat is

the most active We have a plan to prepare 700-800 „Internet

Satthi‟ in 250 to 300 villages in next one year.

At present, this project is running in Rajasthan

and Jharkhand other than Gujarat. However, the

Gujarat group is the most active. The success of

these women is an inspiration for everyone who

wants to do something.

Ganesh Neelam,

Director, Internet Saathi, Tata Trust Mumbai

The Tata Trust has made a special bicycle in

association with Google India and Intel for this

project. A box has been made on the back side

of the bicycle, wherein two smart phones and

two tablets including a power bank is placed.

One umbrella is also kept there. Women moves

in and around the streets of the village taking

this bicycle and gather the women folks of the

village to teach them the usage of smart phone

and internet.

Gujarat among three selected states The project was started from October 2015 in

Gujarat. At the same time, this project was also

brought up in Rajasthan and Jharkhand as well.

In Gujarat, Dahod and Gir-Somnath Districts

were selected as the first project districts by the

Tata Trust and Google. The women from Gir-

Somnath are working actively with great

readiness and exuberance. The Tata trust has

collaborated with Ambuja Cement Foundation

here and an NGO - Dharma Life is managing the

entire project in the area. This institution selects

two women from each village and imparting a

training to them. After that, the women teach

other women of the village about the usages of

the internet and smart phone by visiting them. A

training is also extended to one of the males

from the family of the trained woman, so that

the work can be carried out in the absence of the

women. The work of imparting knowledge of

the women of around 50 villages by the

institution is under progress. As per the officials

of Google India and Tata, 'Internet Saathi'

program aims to introduce the Internet to

500,000 women in 4,500 villages by 2016 end. The „Internet Saathi‟ bicycle has been given by

the Tata Trust in 50 villages of the Gir-Somnath

District of Gujarat. The amazing thing is that

most of the women imparting training regarding

smart phone and the internet to other women are

themselves studied upto the primary school.

Some are totally illiterate though learn to operate

the smart phone and the internet just because of

their gumption and now teaching other women

as well.

How the training is imparted?

The Dharma Life Institution has started a

Helping Womens Go Online (HWGO) i.e.

women internet awareness campaign in the

villages of Gir-Somnath for the campaigning the

„Internet Saathi‟ project. Speaking regarding

this, the volunteer of the institution Anjali

Chaudhari, who is associated since the inception

with this project said, “we reach the place where

women of the village used to gather. We talk

with them about the internet and smart phone.

Most of the village women are unaware of the

internet and smart phone. Not only for women,

but the smart phone and internet is a new thing

for young men in some of the villages. It would

be really a revolution where a woman found

roaming through the streets of such a village

with couple of smartphone, tablets and power

bank, where men does not have a smart phone.”

First of all, a search for a woman is conducted in

the village, who can run the project successfully.

Since the education level is low in the females,

instead of looking for the graduation or a post-

graduation in any woman, we search for the

enthusiasm and interest in them to take this

work. After the choice, a three days training is

dedicated to the volunteer woman, wherein the

difference between a simple phone and a smart

phone is pictured and explained to them and

they have been informed about the new features

of a smart phone that is not found in a simple

telephone. After that, information like what is

the internet, how the internet runs on a smart

Phone, what is Google, how to search the

information from it, how to see the videos, etc.

are explained to them in a practical way.

Further, information about the details that create

interest in the rural women are given. How to

make samosa, what are the new design trend in

the market, how to buy them online? The kind

COVER STORY

Women proved the true faith

The Tata Trust is endeavoring to bring the

rural women out of their four walls. „Internet

Saathi‟ is an important step in that direction.

It was a daydreaming to teach the internet to

the illiterate rural women, but these rural

women proved our faith in them true.

Divyang Vaghela

Chief General Manager, Tata Trust,

Ahmedabad

of information imparts to them. Since the rural

women are not able to type the alphabets in the

mobile, they use voice search, and search for a

blouse design just by looking at the photo. They

receive the information regarding the

government schemes. An emphasis is given to

the features while imparting the training that are

important for the rural women.

I teach other women how to operate the

smartphone by taking out my Internet bicycle at

eight in the morning. I have taught this to almost

150 women so far. My husband is also giving

his support in my work.

Anitaben Barad

Village: Panandar

After the training of three days, the women are

provided with the „Internet Saathi” project

bicycle, which the volunteer woman takes to

teach the other women of the village. At present,

the „Internet Saathi” project bicycle is provided

in 50 villages of the Gir-Somnath District. In

regard to the mobile, first of all, the women

learn how to switch on and switch off the

mobile, how to take selfies, where the photos are

saved after taking it, how the songs are

downloaded to the memory card, how to start

playing the song, how to play a game etc.

common features were taught to them. After that

they learn how to download the application, how

to use them, how to purchase online, how to

manage a bank account, how to pay an

electricity bill etc. important features.

At the end of the three days training, an online

exam of the trainee women is conducted by the

institution through a specially prepared

COLLECT app by the Tata Trust for the

“Internet Saathi” project. In this app, questions

related to the smart phone and internet in three

steps come down in a regional language after

making a profile of the trainee women and the

trainee has to answer them by selecting the

option accordingly. On completion of all the

three steps the results appeared on the same

screen.

This is how the rural women have been taught

about the usages of the smart phone and internet.

It is important to know about the experiences of

the “Internet Saathi” – the volunteer woman,

who goes out in the village after receiving the

training.

We, the women have been inspired to leap

forward by the project “Internet Saathi. Prior to

this, being a daughter-in-law of the village, I

have to cover my head. However, after knowing

about my work, the elders themselves told me

not to cover my head.

Dharmisthaben Vala

Village: Sarakhdi

Interesting Experiences of the Volunteer

woman

The most literate and active among all the

volunteer women is Anitaben Barad from a

coastal and remote village of Panadar in the Gir-

Somnath District explains her experience said, “I

have studied upto the college, but at that time no

mobile was there and hence I do not even

operating a simple phone as well. I was

informed by the smart time for the first time

after joining the “Internet Saathi” project. In our

savings group‟s meeting, a lady from the

Dharma group used to visit us. At that meeting,

after she saw my activeness, she felt that I can

teach Internet to other women. Prior to that, I

had never used the smartphone or knew anything

about it. She trained me for three days in using

the smartphone and the internet. Till then, all

seems fine, but after that when the “Internet

Saathi” bicycle reached at my place, I felt so

nervous. I didn‟t unfold the box in first position

COVER STORY

and gaze to the bicycle whole day long feeling

very confused deep within. As the box contains

valuables, I kept it in the house. So, at that time

also, the bicycle was in front of my sight, which

makes me sleepless throughout the night. This

condition sustained for 15 days. One day I

thought that how long this will remain like this

in my mind? I should do something, So, I started

pressurizing my husband to teach me something

about the smartphone and started asking the

details to one of the members of the savings

group by calling her. One day, I get up early in

the morning at 4‟O clock, I finished all the

household chores till 8 in the morning and took

out the bicycle and brought myself on the street.

I was in a dilemma about the reactions I may

receive by getting out with the smartphone and

the Internet for imparting a training to the

village women in the presence of the elders. It

was very scrupulous in the beginning, but

afterwards I gained the confidence. Today, I

explain about the internet and smart phone with

some or other women on a daily basis. I taught

over 150 women within a three months to

operate the internet and smartphone. The ladies

can take the selfies as well and they are

benefitted with the glimpses of Lord Shiva on

YouTube. Some of them learned to cook Punjabi

recipes. I sense that if we get our intellect to do

any work and establish an effort for the same,

the success is definitely ours.

When we received this project at first, we all

refused to accept it. The reason behind it was

a failure of the smokeless stove‟s project.

However, we took this with „will see‟ attitude

and started learning the smartphone-

internet.

Motiben Chavada

Operator, Internet Saathi Project, Sandhanidhar

Rekhaben Gohil, a lady from the Village Gohii

Ni Khan runs an „Internet Saathi‟ bicycle in her

village. She was the shyest person of the Mahila

Mandal‟s meeting held in the village. She talks

very less, don‟t give any attention to what others

do. She behaves in the same manner with the

family member as well. An introvert by nature,

Rekhaben will make a way to impart training

about the Internet in a village, is still a mystery

for some. Sometimes, the real challenges of life

bring out the true capabilities of the person. The

same has happened with the Rekhaben as well.

She was terrified when her name was proposed

unanimously for the “Internet Saathi” project at

the meeting. However, she has no other way out,

but to accept the decision made unanimously in

her favor. At first, she asked to give the

responsibility to someone else, but after the

persistence of all, she accepted it. Today, she

will roam in and around the village by taking her

“Internet Saathi” bicycle and put a big smile

even on the elder‟s face. She said, “the foremost

benefit of this project is that I learn to speak

among people. Prior to this, I keep mum and not

utter a word in the meetings. I learnt lots in three

day long training and teach the same to the other

women too. I get confused when the “Internet

Saathi” bicycle came to my house, because it is

altogether a different thing to sit and learn about

the smartphone and the internet with an educated

one at the office. Here, I have to roam around in

the village with a unique bicycle, not only for

once, but have to visit places and teach other

women to operate smartphone and the internet

on a daily basis. I was worried that whether I

will be able to do all these or not? My education

is low, moreover, not even knowing how to

operate a simple phone, and now, it is a

smartphone, that too with an English Script.

How will I operate it? This makes me a bit

worried. However, I learn everything at the

training. Even started to learn about the new

features from a mobile shop in the village. I do

ask the shopkeeper, if anything is not

understandable to me. Though I learned it all,

but it was a challenge for me to teach the same

to other women, which I have accepted.”

In my village, still so many young males do

not have the knowledge to operate the

smartphone. But their wife knows. I taught

them. Today these women are teaching them

to operate the smartphones.

Varshaben Rathod

Village: Dudana

COVER STORY

Talking about how she prepared other women of

the village to get ready for learning the

smartphone and the internet, she said, “initially

women were frightened to take the smartphone

in their hand. However, I told them that the

internet is an ocean, you can see whatever you

want to. And then, I make them search for so

many things. I also bought a Dulhan set online

for a daughter of one of the ladies. I ordered a

sowing drill machine for a village person. We

have observed the results online for some of the

children studying in 10th & 12

th standard. I also

explained that, one can search for the required

thing through voice search if not well –versed

with the typing. Today, the villagers know me as

a “powerful bride” of the village.

What was the reaction of the male part of the

village when women are learning the

smartphone? In reply of such question,

Rekhaben said, “initially the elders agitated by

saying that what is the need of learning such

things to the women, Do they have to go broad

by learning all these?” At that time, my reply

was that, what if the situation arises and the

male is not present at home. At that time it may

be useful to the women.”

Motiben of the Sandhanidhar village, who

encourage the village women in this project said,

“Still the smartphone are not within the reach of

the youth of the remote village of Gir-Somnath.

At this point, having a smartphone and a tablet

in the hand of a woman, and using it is not a

small deal. When we received this project at

first, we all refused to accept it. The reason

behind it was a failure of the smokeless stove‟s

project. However, we took this with „will see‟

attitude and started learning the smartphone-

internet. It was not decided till the previous day

of the training that who will be in which village.

Prior to this , we were hesitant to take the

bicycle in the village. But, once the work has

been started, the hesitation washed away.

Now, I make the old women of the village to

see the glimpses of Somnath Mahadev’s

prayer on smartphone online.

Manishaben Goswami

Village: Devli

Finally, we personally select the women and

imparted the training. Now, we have searched

the solutions for the problems they are facing. If

anything about the smartphone‟s feature not

being understood, they used to call one another

among them and asked to get the information. In

the beginning it was difficult to run bicycle with

a saree on the head. However, the wise elders

free them from this ritual of covering the head.

Today, the women riding an “Internet Saathi”

The bicycle is not covering her head in the

village. Many elders supported this in so many

villages and notwithstanding he respect of such

women are on the rise. This is an achievement

along with the awareness about the ”Internet

Saathi” project as well.

“Ineternet Saathi” taught me to speak, it is not

wrong to say like this. Prior to this I was bit

hesitate to speak in public. That fear has gone. I

have teach about the usage of smartphone to 60

women.

Rekhaben Gohil

Village: Gohil Ni Khan.

COVER STORY

Talking about this, Ganesh Neelam, the project

director of the “Internet Saathi” from Tata Trust,

said that, “the main objective of the “Internet

Saathi” project is to make the rural women and

the community be aware through the Internet

and other Digital Services. By identifying the

volunteer women, we provide them with

smartphone and tablets having internet

connections. In turn, they will teach other

women about the smartphone and internet and

through this make them aware about how to get

the required information about agriculture,

health, Education and Social Security sectors.

We have a plan to prepare 700-800 „Internet

Satthi‟ in 250 to 300 villages in next one year.

At present, this project is running in Rajasthan

and Jharkhand other than Gujarat. However, the

Gujarat group is the most active. The success of

these women is an inspiration for everyone who

want to do something. Inspired by this success,

now we are going to implement this project in

the state of Assam, Tripura and Maharashtra

well.''

Neha Barjatya of Google India said, “Only 12%

of rural women using the Internet. We aim to

bridging the gap between rural women and the

digital world with the help of this “Internet

Saathi” project. So, the Internet service can

reach for them. We are encouraged with the

results of the first training program. The women

trained by us are using the internet very

smoothly in the villages. They are actively

working in the field of different procedures in

the agricultural field, entertainment, and

professional opportunities sector. We aim to take

this project to 2.5 lakh villages in next five

years. Women from Gujarat has filled a fuel to

the project, which shall work as a tonic for us.

The rural women are becoming aware about the

smartphone and the internet through this

“Internet Saathi” Project is a matter of initiation

of the dream project of “Digital India” as seen

by the Prime Minister. Connecting the remote

village people, including all the citizen of the

country with the modern technology through this

internet will make a life smart and easy for them

and the initiative taken by “Internet Saathi” in

that direction is appreciable. Looking toward the

project it must be said that it gives a feeling that

the vision of “Digital India” is taking a step

forward.

The project is to be taken in 2.5

villages Only 12% of rural women using the Internet. We

aim to bridging the gap between rural women

and the digital world with the help of this

“Internet Saathi” project. We are encouraged

with the results of the first training program. We

aim to take this project to 2.5 lakh villages in

next five years.