… because 80% of India’s 1 billion people
live in villages and many have no access to
jobs, food, energy or shelter …
and little information about what they
can do to improve their lives.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED
COMMUNITY CENTER (ITECC)
… with
A properly
designed and
implemented
ITECC
Modern
Science
and
Integrates
Appropriate
Technology
Traditional
for
Knowledge
Sustainable
Development
ARTS
(Society for Appropriate Rural Technology for Sustainability)
is proud to partner with
Auroville’s VILLAGE ACTION
In the establishment of a rural
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED
COMMUNITY CENTER (ITECC)
At Auroville
For the promotion of village-based programs
That will lead to “Total Community Development” (TCD),
By enhancing the socio-economic fabric of the rural community
Through the adoption of eco-friendly and appropriate technologies
that conserve Mother Nature
Slide # 3
ARTS
(Society for Appropriate Rural Technology for Sustainability)
Is a member of Sankalpa Trust, Calcutta
Which also partners
Development Alternatives, New Delhi in areas that
1. Define sustainable development initiatives, and
2. Socioeconomic and environmental factors that empower rural
communities through sustainable livelihoods programs.
Particularly for the promotion of village-based programs in:
•
SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
•
IT-ENABLED SYSTEMS & SERVICES
•
RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
•
SHELTER PRODUCTS
Slide # 4
Sustainable Development
A popular concept after 1992 United Nations Conf-
erence on Environment and Development (UNCED),
and reinforced by Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration.
FOCUS
ON
METHODS
Addresses the
complex
and
inter-related issues of
energy and the environment
GOAL:
A POSITIVE AND LASTING DEVELOPMENT OF OUR
Incompatibility of present development patterns
PLANET’S RESOURCES AND POPULATIONS
Slide # 5
Sustainable Livelihood
A work opportunity that gives:
• A decent income
• Some status in society and
• Some dignity and meaning in life
Provides opportunities for people to
work in their own community instead of
migrating to the slums of a big city.
Slide # 6
Sustainable Livelihoods
Outcome
Purchasing power and lifestyle would be
comparable to that of a factory worker in an
urban area, where the wages are much
higher than in the village to compensate for
higher costs of living.
Slide # 7
IT-Enabled Community Center (ITECC)
Stakeholders:
Householders / rural community members
Educationists
Rural businesspersons
Media
Other NGOs and
Local government institutions
Participatory practices promote total
empowerment of rural communities through
foundation-level developmental programs
defined in the Pyramidal Model.
Slide # 8
SANKALPA’S Pyramidal Model
for TOTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Community development is
about building active and
sustainable communities
based on social justice and
mutual respect.
It is about changing
power structures to
remove the barriers
that prevent people
from participating in
the issues that affect
their lives.
Information Technology Center
For Internet-based and IT-enabled
services, including ‘Telemedicine’
Renewable Energy
Center
For technology
dissemination
Building Center
For demonstration of
eco-friendly products
Training & Education Center
For employment generation
Slide # 9
Education & Training Center
A major objective is to provide a platform for the
rural entrepreneur to develop the necessary
technical and management skills that will be needed
to be successful in the uncompromising global
market place.
Currently the Sankalpa Arts & Handicrafts Center
strategy is to develop the following handicraft
products:
Handmade Paper Products
Bamboo Handicrafts
Jute Handicrafts
(visit http://societyarts.tripod.com/12ah/hmpp.html for details)
Slide # 10
Renewable Energy Center
Energy, although not an end in itself,
facilitates socio-economic activities and
promotes human empowerment.
The rampant unavailability of energy
sources and services correlates closely
with many challenges of sustainable
development, such as poverty alleviation,
the advancement of women, protection of
the environment, and perhaps most
importantly - the creation of sustainable
livelihoods.
(visit http://societyarts.tripod.com/03sene/index.html for details)
Slide # 11
A biomass gasifier
system for
cremation reduces
fuel wood consumption from 600 kg to
150 kg - almost
75% reduction!
Alternate biomass
fuels like rice husks
and other agricultural crop residues
may be used.
Building Center
Functions as a grassroots level technology
transfer center in rural areas to
disseminate information on cost effective
and environment friendly building
technology for:
Skill Upgradation & Training
Manufacturing & Distribution
Design Consultancy & Services
Develop appropriate technologies
(visit http://societyarts.tripod.com/04sshe/index.html for details)
Slide # 12
Vertical Shaft Brick
Kilns (VSBK)
Technology represents
a very energy efficient
and higher quality
method of firing bricks
resulting in an energy
saving of 30 %
compared to BTK and
more than 50%
compared to clamps.
IT-Enabled Services Center
SARI
Project
in Tamil Nadu
Combines ICT with
TARAhaat.com is both, a
native ingenuity and
horizontal and a vertical
inherent business skills
portal (hence a Mother
in rural communities to
portal, or ‘Mortal’), with
create new livelihoods
an interactive and
opportunities and
graphics-intensive
interface, which allows
create new jobs for
semi-literate and neo-
local entrepreneurs.
literate users enhanced
access to products and
(visit http://societyarts.tripod.com/01sinf/index.html for details)
Slide # 13
services.
The ‘Sustainability Index’ is a function of the the four
foundation elements (livelihoods, energy, shelter and
information).
The index provides a measure of sustainability, on the
basis of functionalities offered and maturity of services
provided.
Slide # 14
Village-based IT-Enabled
Community Centers (ITECCs)
Provide a sustainable resource to
SUITABLY EQUIPPED AND STAFFED
demonstrate and disseminate appropriate
and environment
ITECCs friendly
ARE THEtechnologies;
IDEAL
Opportunities
for primary
and adult
VILLAGE-BASED
RESOURCE
education and capacity building;
FOR IMPLEMENTING
Opportunities for rural people to find
SDC POLICIES AND PROGRAMS.
work in their own community, instead of
migrating to the slums of a big city.
Slide # 15
A typical village-based ‘IT-Enabled Community Center’
Note: A ‘Deal Sheet’ for Social Entrepreneurs, who may be interested in investing towards the
development of a typical village-based ITECC in India, will be made available upon request.
mailto: subra@engr.colostate.edu
Slide # 16
Typical Projects for TOTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable Development
Information
Technology
Center
Telemedicine Center
Publications Center
Internet services
Jingle production
eBook production
Library
These are instances of
livelihood projects that
are environmentally
and economically
viable and sustainable.
Renewable Energy Center
Biomass Gasifier Power Plant
Energy Briquettes
Solar Shop
Biogas plant + accessories
Biomass Gasifier Refrigerator (3TR)
Building Center
VSBK
Auroram (CEB)
MCR Tiles
FC Doors & Windows
FC Channels
Training & Education Center
Hand made paper products
Silk screen printing unit
Bamboo handicrafts
Jute handicrafts
Sewing handicrafts/toys
Pottery items
Food drying
Energy efficient chulhas
Marine products
Slide # 17
The components of the Telemedicine Project—which is not directly a part of any of
Projects for TOTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
the four basic Sankalpa Pyramidal model—are briefly described in the images in
Focus on
this slide, essentially to demonstrate
theTelemedicine
superior services that are planned.
Note: Details will be made available on request
Slide # 18
Projects for TOTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
(from the previous slides)
TYPICAL BUDGET
#
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i.
j
k
Budgetary Head
Personnel
Fringe Benefits
Travel
Equipment
Supplies
Contractual
Construction
Other
Total direct charges (sum a to h)
Indirect Charges
TOTALS (sum of i and j)
* US$ to Rs conversion rate = 41
Funding Request
Indian Rs
US $ *
5,568,000
135,805
556,800
13,580
1,830,000
44,634
11,926,000
290,878
2,802,500
68,354
750,000
18,293
1,760,000
42,927
870,480
21,231
26,063,780
635,702
1,915,056
46,709
27,978,836
682,411
Note: Details will be made available on request
Slide # 18
% of Total
19.9%
2.0%
6.5%
42.6%
10.0%
2.7%
6.3%
3.1%
93.2%
6.8%
100.0%
The anthropomorphic ‘human’ model of the ITECC
The Operating Model of the ITECC shown in the next slide
is based on the analogy of a human being - and for
emotive clarity, we have used Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous
sketch of a man as the central motif - to model the
operational characteristics of the ITECC.
The three-tiered structure of the ITECC is defined on the
right side of the image, as:
(a) The Think Tank;
(b) The Community; and
(c) The Center
It has to be understood by ALL members of the target
rural community, for a successful intervention. It
therefore has to translated into the local language for
maximizing its effectiveness.
Slide # 19
The anthropomorphic ‘human’ model
Visionaries
of the
(The ITECC
Head –
thinking ability): The
community elders and
children, teachers, media,
business persons, NGOs
and the Panchayat leaders,
who will design and
formalize the rules for
running and operating the
ITECC, sustainably.
The Center (The Legs –
motive power): The community
volunteers, NGO staff and
academicians, social workers
and And
Visiting
Fellows;
they
as in
any marching
comprise
“Learning
regimen,(a)
we the
have
to lead with
Center
(LC)”
(left
leg) and
the left
first,
followed
by (b)
the
the
“Community
Development
right, and so on, so that the
Cell
(CDC)”
leg) forward
entire
body(right
can move
– otherwise, it will either topple
or go out of synchronism.
The Community (The Body –
denoting action): All men and
women of the community
constitute the right and left
hands - to do the main work of
community building through
participatory approaches, and at
the heart of the body are all the
children of the community - for
they are
the future.
The left/right marching analogy explains
that
the community must incrementally learn first
and only then implement the related
community development program, in a
continuous cycle to achieve sustainable
community development.
Slide # 20
The anthropomorphic ‘human’ model of the ITECC
Key features of the ‘Human’ Model:
1. The ‘Visionaries’ determine the way the ITECC
will function: (a) governance; (b) membership
criteria; (c) way to self-sustainability, (d)
learning tools; (e) development programs.
2. The entire ‘Community’ has to be mobilized and
involved in the successful participatory
functioning of the ITECC.
3. The ‘Center’ provides only the legs for carrying
the community forward - first by ‘learning’ what
has to be done, and only when all the
ramifications are understood, initiate the
‘Community Development’ programs.
Slide # 21
We believe simplicity is the key to success
Sankalpa Sustainable Development Model
First, build a suitable ITECC in the target rural community
…
Labpur ITECC
(Birbhum)
ITECC
(Birbhum)
Santiniketan
Silla ITECC
(Burdwan)
Barasat ITECC
(24-Pgs.)
Baidyapur ITECC
(Nadia)
… and simply let the people of the village community use the ITECC without any hindrance.
Children will
study any
subject of
their choice
People of the
community
Women will
choose their
own path to
empowerment
People of the
community
People of the
community
People will choose
their own preferred
livelihood option …
… and
environmentally
sound.
… that will be
economically
sustainable …
People of the
community
People of the
community
Slide # 22
Labpur, in Birbhum, West Bengal,
was the first village that we studied.
The first experimental SDC was
built at Santiniketan
We have now
established our
Sankalpa
Research Center
at Village
Baidyapur in
Nadia, West
Bengal, where we
shall continue our
experiments with
sustainability
We have
also
worked in
other
districts in
West
Bengal and
Tamil Nadu
Slide # 19
Key Success Factors for rural ITECCs
Easy to access and simple to use;
Provide educational programs that children can
relate to and operate without supervision;
Convince women and girls that the ITECC offers
real opportunities for their empowerment;
Convince the community that the neighborhood
ITECC will provide the tools to solve their own
problems, in their own way and at their pace.
A robust sustainable development program requires transparency,
participative management and universal usability.
Slide # 24
Universal Usability for rural areas
Universal usability & design of village-based
IT-enabled services involve not only an
understanding of how users attempt to
accomplish specific tasks, but also:
A detailed assessment of the socioeconomic, sociocultural and sociotechnical
factors that impact the penetration of ITES
systems, as well as
The externalities that apply to ITES
systems.
Slide # 25
Sociotechnical concepts
Sociotechnical
theory proposes
that an
Stresses the reciprocal
interrelationship
between
andtechnical
machines,
ITES
systemhumans
has both,
and
so that efficiency
human/social
aspectsand
thathumanity
are tightly
would
notand
contradict
each other.
bound
interconnected.
Slide # 26
Sociotechnical factors
for sustainability
Rather than
individual
elements, we
need to study
these
interconnections
to enhance
usability and
overall system
performance.
Slide # 27
Expected results from village-based ITECCs
Empower rural communities to eliminate any
residual urge of villagers to migrate to the cities
in search of a better life;
Attract people of rural origin who had once
migrated to the cities, to return in droves, and
thereby start a new revolution … a sustainable
one … throughout the country.
A robust SDC requires a focus on scientific
management for success.
Slide # 28
Each intervention strategy
requires its own unique set
of administrative processes
and scientific methodologies
for success.
Sustainability requires
control over these
administrative processes
and scientific
methodologies
Slide # 29
CONCLUSIONS
A vigorous participatory approach between target rural
communities, educationists, rural business stakeholders,
the media, NGOs and the local government / political
administration is needed to implement a robust plan for
sustainable rural development.
Sustainability and universal usability requires,
amongst other factors, an understanding of sociotechnical
factors, and the institutionalization of scientific
management practices and methodologies.
Appropriate village-based IT-Enabled Community
Centers promote sustainable development and livelihoods.
Slide # 30