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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.