CONNECTIVITY & ACCESS

Internet benefits citizens in so many ways – awareness of rights and entitlements, knowledge about government benefits, obtaining academic material and even entertainment. However, the vast geographical diversity and a large population of the country make it a challenge to take internet access to the grassroots. Moreover, rural India faces poor public infrastructure, which includes lack of communication mediums, unreliable power supply and low bandwidth.

INFORMATION & SERVICES

CIRCs facilitate the process of dispelling ignorance and creating a holistic environment for information dissemination, even in the most remote and underreached corners of the country. CIRCs implement initiatives that lead knowledge propagation in remote locations, such as creation of public online portals, developing digitally empowered and responsible Panchayats, making ICT tools easily available to the rural masses so that they can them access information anytime Resultantly, information empowered, confident rural citizens make greater contribution towards public discourse, whether through online platforms or open community spaces.

IMPACT STORIES OF PARTICIPATION & GOVERNANCE

As community platforms, CIRCs enable free interactions between citizens, government and civil societies. Hence, by establishing linkages between communities and government, CIRC make it easier for citizens to participate in decision making process and government delivery mechanism. With the help of CIRCs, government department at different levels can make sure that all voices are heard and citizens are empowered to hold governments accountable for their actions.

CAPACITY BUILDING & TRAINING

Taking ahead the spirit of ‘Skill India’, CIRCs across the country constantly endeavour to create a robust, computer literate workforce, besides improving entrepreneurships. Computers have demonstrated great potential in catalysing the overall skill development of youth as well as women in rural India. Capacity building activities, such as enhancing language and communication skills, behavioural and capacity building skills, management skills, etc. are effectively carried out through online and offline platforms at CIRCs. This essentially includes programmes that offer an elaborate curriculum through pre-designed study modules, created with easy to understand content, often followed by tests conducted to evaluate student performances.

TELE-MEDICINE & HEALTH

Several remote and rural corners of the country lack access to adequate healthcare facilities. Moreover, for villagers it is not always possible to travel long distances to the cities where hospitals are located. CIRCs with the help of internet connectivity and a very basic digital interface of computers have been establishing telemedicine spaces within the centre. In this process, linkages are created with medicine centres and hospitals located in towns. With the help of video conferencing, villages are connected with doctors and health experts. People can enjoy benefits of easy remote diagnosis as well as preventive advice at the CIRC.

AWARENESS OF RIGHTS & ENTITLEMENTS

Information is fundamental to development. Members of information empowered society are aware of their rights, can use them to seek entitlements and can harness their power to hold systems accountable. With the help of digital and non-digital mediums CIRCs have been disseminating important information related to government schemes and benefit especially to the marginalised so that they can make use of them to improve their lives.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & LIVELIHOODS

SCIRCs help establish innovative technology solutions that enable easy and affordable access to the internet in rural areas. In this way, the centres have been acting as empowering agents for small and micro enterprises. Traditional artisans, especially the underserved are imparted skills in basic computer applications, such as word processing, data entry and internet surfing and add to the value to the supply chain. Additionally, training in E-mail communication provided at CIRCs helps in reducing operation costs and speed up business processes.

IMPACT STORIES OF E-COMMERCE & ECONOMIC INCLUSION

CIRCs ensure that the digital knowledge provided at the centres enables producers and micro enterprises at grassroots level promote and expand market of their products through e-commerce platforms. This is ensured by providing them will skill to develop their own e-commerce platforms or by offering them designing and developing services through the centre. CIRCs also make sure financial awareness of community by educating them about effective methods of savings and investments.

CULTURE & HERITAGE PRESERVATION

Community Information Resource Centre makes effective use of digital tools towards preserving and promoting tangible and intangible heritage and cultural elements of a region. This includes skilling local community in documenting heritage elements, providing digital education to enhance traditional livelihoods, and using web and social media platforms to spread knowledge about the region to the world.