The Hindu Business Line : Taking IT to the masses

Prof. M. S. Swaminathan (right), Chairman, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, and Mr Ravi Venkatesan, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd, at a press conference in the Capital on Friday. - - Kamal Narang

New Delhi , Feb. 11

MICROSOFT has announced one-year grant of $1,08,000 each to M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and Datamation Foundation Charitable Trust, as part of its worldwide one billion dollar unlimited potential programme to take IT to masses.

The announcement marks the second round of funding in India under the programme, and takes the total investment by Microsoft to $4,77,500 in cash grants alone. Besides, Microsoft has invested in development of an IT training curriculum, software and knowledge sharing with the NGOs.

Mr Ravi Venkatesan, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation India, said, "The challenge is to leverage technology as an ally in a conscious movement for ushering in economic, social and rural-urban equity." He added, " Going forward, we will be deepening the programme in India with more partnerships with NGOs and civil society groups and targeting more field interventions in training and capacity building of communities."

M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and Microsoft will collaborate on a long-term project for over three years. MSSRF would set up 33 village knowledge centres (VKCs) in the first year and 100 VKCs over the three year period in four districts in Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur, Dindigul, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram - and Union Territory of Pondicherry.

The centres would build skills and capacities of the rural communities to enhance livelihood opportunities.

Microsoft would collaborate with Datamation Foundation Charitable Trust on a pilot `ICT for development' project aimed at reaching out to the poor and semi-literate women of Kanpur-Lucknow corridor in Uttar Pradesh. These women are engaged in traditional "chikankari" embroidery.

During the project period, 3,000 women would be trained, by upgrading the existing two community technology and learning centres and adding 6 new CTLCs to the network, to enhance the competitiveness and marketability of their products.

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