Organisation:
Development Support Team
Location:
Pune, Maharashtra
Problem:
More than 50% of the women in the local slums in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad have access to technology and internet through their smart phones. It is time that we realized that just access to technology is not adequate for the Digital Empowerment of women. Taking on the changing scenario of the Digital Age, at Development Support Team a need was identified to work towards the Digital Empowerment of women.
Solution:
DST team has designed a tailormade module which includes use of technology in the daily lives of women in self-help groups, the special focus is on use of mobile technology for “Strengthening Self Help Groups”, Use of SMS/Whatsapp technology to disseminate information to all members by Group Leaders and/or Community Workers to ensure transparency and accountability.
Scalability and Impact:
The first round of training as a pilot with the Community Workers and some Group Leaders on use of technology for then based on the initial feedback, modified it and rolled it out through onsite training programmes in the community in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Chakan and Sangamner. We have trained 400+ urban and rural women on Digital Literacy.
Financial Requirements:
1. Scaling-up support
2. Technology
Awards and Recognition:
1. Awards from Intelliment, Pune and Rotary clubs.
2. Recognition by national and international community development networks.
3. Won the first Asia CSR award and
4. Won the first Sandvik Asia CSR award with Forbes Marshall in CSR in women’s empowerment at Kasarwadi, Bopkhel and Chakan.