Grant Amount: US$ 9,000

Keywords: GENDER, EQUITY, EMPOWERMENT, PRODUCTIVITY, CAPACITY BUILDING, INDIA

Geographic coverage: India

Objective

The objective of this project is to establish an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Service Centre that caters exclusively to women.

Research context

This project explored the use of ICTs as an empowerment tool for women in India through the establishment of an ICT Seva Kendra (service centre). The Seva Kendra caters exclusively to women, in an effort to encourage participation, build capacity and support their work towards social transformation. ICT Seva Kendra focused on leveraging ICTs like email, word processing and database management to redress the problems faced by self-employed women, Self-help group (SHG) members and elected women representatives of local self-government bodies. Thus, the centre sought to catalyze and support the building of ICT-enabled women's social networks.

Target beneficiaries

This project benefits self-employed women, members of Self-help groups (SHGs) and elected women representatives of local government bodies.

Outputs

• Effective use of ICTs to advance women’s lives through awareness of information;
• Generation of content and software that respond to the practical and strategic needs of the target constituency;
• Increased economic benefit, sharing of resources and reduced costs;
• Support for women to demand entitlements, counter stereotyping, take action against neglect; and
• Empowerment of women to play an active role in decision-making and collective action at a regional level to advance their lives.

Research results and outcomes

While this project failed to achieve some of its proposed outputs, it has had some important outcomes and offers valuable lessons learned. In addition, it should be noted that the grant recipients are continuing their work in this area, beyond the scope of the original proposal.

The main challenge the project faced were problems with its partner organization, the Maharashtra Foundation. Its unwillingness to advance funds is the main reason the project has remained incomplete. Two lessons the project learnt from this experience were: one, to ensure terms of reference with partner organizations are in place before the proposal submission stage itself and, two, to begin community-based work only after the committed grant amount is transferred into the project account. The team also notes that the Indian government is increasing controls on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and tightening rules for accepting foreign donations. They suggest there is an urgent need for grant agencies to develop strategies that will ensure the support they provide can be accessed by small organizations like this one.

The project researched data of the villages in Tuljapur Taluka, and selected two remote villages, Savargoan and Kemwadi. The conditions in the villages were highly constrained. Infrastructure such as transport, water supply, sanitation and drainage were insufficient. According to a government school worker, children in the villages were malnourished. People in the villages had no opportunities for higher education and limited options for employment. Many young girls are forced to quit school, regardless of their performance, either to work in the fields or to be married. Most of the young girls and women work as farm labour and were not involved in community decision-making processes. The villages were not being served by any other NGOs.

The project team spent a great deal of time in the field and gained first hand experience of the realities of life in rural Marathwada. Based on this experience, they saw the challenge as three-fold. First, to demonstrate the value that ICTs could offer women, second, to connect this value with the realities women faced in daily life, and third, to build women’s confidence in mastering and using the technology.

To meet these challenges the project team undertook a number of efforts. They produced a poster-based campaign on the value of ICTs. They held numerous meetings and focus groups in both villages covering a variety of subjects such as ICT literacy, financial mechanisms of SHGs, nutrition, health, and political participation. The project noted these engagements did have positive effects on the empowerment of women. This was demonstrated by a variety of new initiatives undertaken by the women in the villages themselves. For example, women started a community-managed library. Local women also volunteered to create a literacy programme. Women formed health committees that developed and collected daily activity charts documenting the health status and nutritional patterns in the village.

Marathmoli’s work in the field was progressing satisfactory until October 2004, when it had to be scaled down due to the lack of funds. Although the project suffered from financial problems and instability, the project represents the small but crucial steps that need to be taken to realize the vision of using ICTs to empower women and young girls, especially from marginalized communities.

Duration

Start Date: March 2004
End Date: February 2005
Total Duration: 12 Months

Contact information

Swatija Manorama, Programme Manager
Marathmoli, Maharashtra Women's Action Net
601, Wing A, Siddhivinayak Society, Gurunanak Road
Bandra W, Mumbai 400050, India
Telephone: +91 22 2532 4538
Email:    swatija@gmail.com, asmitamj@gmail.com, marathmoli@gmail.com