MSSRF | IEC | Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy for Rural Prosperity

From small beginnings as an experimental Information Village Project started in Pondicherry in 1998, MSSRF’s initiative in the use of ICT for information and poverty alleviation in rural areas has evolved and expanded over the years. By December 2004, twelve VKCs were in operation in Pondicherry. VKC initiatives are also being attempted at other field sites and different models are emerging in response to local needs. (See SPA 102 and SPA 401). As a need was felt for a network linking experts and grassroot level communities, the NVA was launched in August, 2003 with the generous support of Sir Dorabji Tata Social Welfare Trust. The state level hub, located at MSSRF is the knowledge resource that creates and maintains web sites and databases for the local hubs, in close collaboration with national and international agencies. It is linked to Village Resource Centres (VRCs) which in turn are linked to VKCs for a cluster of villages. A diagrammatic representation of the linkages is given in Figure 6.1. It is an information system that establishes lab-to-lab, lab-to-land, land-to-lab and land-to-land linkages.

The NVA aims to provide information and knowledge related to drought, climate management, augmentation of water, maximizing crop yield (more cropper drop) and markets, and build skills and capacities of the rural poor, with a view to enhancing livelihood opportunities, and empowering vulnerable people to make better choices and have better control of their own development.

A State level hub in Chennai and four block level hubs in TN at Thiruvaiyaru (Thanjavur District), Sempatti (Dindigul District), Annavasal (Pudukkottai District) and Thangatchimadam (Ramanathapuram District) have been set up. In October 2004, ISRO provided satellite connectivity for three block level information centres (Thiruvaiyaru, Sempatti and Thangatchimadam) under the Village Resource Centre (VRC) programme. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India inaugurated this programme through video conferencing in October 2004. In his inaugural speech, he said, “Community-based vulnerability and risk-related information, provision of timely, early warning and dissemination of weather related information can lead to reliable disaster management support at the village level.”

This network provides the services of teleeducation, tele-medicine, online decision support, interactive farmers’ advisory services, tele-fishery, weather services and water management. This programme covers both farm and fishing families based on the motto “food, water, health, literacy and work for all and for ever”.

Under the VRC programme, a spatial database for Thiruvaiyaru has been prepared by ISRO. It reveals the land use pattern of crops grown such as paddy, sugarcane and oil seeds. It also includes fallow lands, sandy areas, built-up land, water bodies and a detailed soil survey. The database helps farmers to plan their activities. TNAU has developed a software called DSSIFER which gives a district-wise cropping pattern. The TN Rice Research Institute has suggested that it could include the land and water resource plan.

Under the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Programme (MUPP), 100 Community Technology Learning Centres (CTLC) are to be set up.

Training and Capacity Building Programmes

A series of need based training programmes was facilitated through networking with various research, NGO and Government agencies.

Pre-rabi season training programmes: The Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry of Dindigul district, Gandhigram Rural Institute and NVA/VRC jointly organized a few pre-rabi season training programmes covering the blocks of Athoor, Nilakottai and Batlagundu. The cultivation practices of jatropha, sweet sorghum, sugar beet and pulses were discussed, as well as details of a regulated market, rain water harvest and farm ponds. Booklets were also prepared for the training programmes.

Health camps and awareness programmes: Health camps were organized in tribal areas with the support of the Panchayat, Christian Fellowship Hospital and Goodwill Tribal Outreach Programme (NGO). Health awareness programmes were conducted to help them guard against diseases like malaria, diarrhoea and jaundice. Hepatitis-B awareness and vaccination programmes were also conducted with the help of SHGs.

Computer Aided Learning Programme: With the help of the Azim Premji Foundation, the Computer Aided Learning Programme (CALP) was initiated in all the VRCs. So far 50 CDs have been developed on various topics such as the importance of conserving energy, learning English and learning to invest in small business.

Government schools are being involved in the programme with the permission of the Education Department. The process of research in children’s learning curve has been set in motion and training is being given to the school teachers.

In Thangatchimadam and Pudukkottai, nutrition gardening has also been initiated in the schools with the help of the Department of Horticulture. In Pudukkottai, the National Pulses Research Centre provided technical guidance. In Thiruvaiyaru, the CALP was linked with Eco- Clubs in schools. Health awareness classes are also being conducted with the help of Primary Health Centre doctors.

Accounting Software Training Programme: Accounting software has been developed for SHGs with the help of the DRDA. SHGs were trained in maintaining accounts and they submit monthly reports to banks and the DRDA.

Kitchen Garden Training Programmes: Orientation programmes were conducted on the importance of vegetables in the diet and raising vegetable crops in the space around the houses. Kitchen garden programmes were initiated with technical support from the Department of Horticulture and National Pulses Research Centre

In Thangatchimadam, 30 SHG members and 5 people from Thaneerotru, who participated in the kitchen garden training programme now produce a variety of vegetables. In Thiruvaiyaru, Anbuthamil SHG is maintaining a kitchen garden and selling vegetables in the neighbourhood.

Training programmes in Organic Farming and Herbal Healing: Training in organic farming was arranged for women SHGs and farmers with the help of TN Organic Farmers’ Association (Table 6.1). The importance of preparation of panchakavya, amirtha karaisal, herbal pesticide and insecticide and organic methods of farming and vermicomposting was emphasized.

Training Programmes on different crops: Training was imparted on methods of cultivation, with the help of various agencies as shown in Table 6.2

Training in GPS and other fish finding equipment:

With the help of Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA), training programmes were organized for fishermen in Rameswaram on GPS and other fish finding equipment as well as the processing of fish (Table 6.3).

Livestock maintenance: In October 2004, a touch screen multimedia module for livestock was set up in Thiruvaiyaru and Sempatti with the support of Livestock Development Group, University of Reading, UK. The module provides information on the various aspects of rearing livestock and poultry. A person who got information on Mastitis and its cure through the touch screen module, consulted a veterinary doctor and cured the animal herself.

Users have suggested that there should be more information on livestock varieties, marketing, prevention and control of different diseases, details of hospitals and so on.

Animal husbandry camps and awareness programmes were arranged at Pudukkottai, Dindigul, Thiruvaiyaru and Pondicherry with the help of the Veterinary Department, Rotary Club of Pudukkottai, KVK, Veterinary University Training and Research Centre, Fruits and Vegetable Growers’ Association, Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and panchayats. The problems addressed included deworming, foot and mouth disease, fertilisation tests, artificial insemination and surgery.

Use of Video and Audio Media

The hub at MSSRF has a good satellite bandwidth under the ISRO VRC programme. All the Centres regularly hold video conferences between the rural communities and experts, between farmers, between SHGs and between farmers and manufactures. They promote lateral learning among rural families. Interactive programmes were held during the year for diverse groups:

Joint Director, Agriculture, Thiruvaiyaru and farmers of Ramanathapuram
Project associates of Thiruvaiyaru and farmers of Sempatti
Farmers of Thangatchimadam and HEHCO International Trust, Thiruvaiyaru
Coconut Farmers’ Association, Sempatti and Coconut farmers, Thangatchimadam
Farmers of Sempatti and Thiruvaiyaru and Mr Sharma, Asst. General Manager, NABARD
Fishermen and women, Thangatchimadam and villagers from Nattam, Sempatti
SHGs, Thangatchimadam and SHGs, Sempatti

Forty audio programmes on different topics were created by knowledge workers and relayed every Saturday through All India Radio, Pondicherry. This programme produced under the Open Knowledge Network (OKN) collects and disseminates information in the local language on various matters.

Multipurpose Functions & Services

The VKCs perform multipurpose functions in response to local needs and demands. For instance, the Centres have been approached for information on contract farming, sale of Azospirillum and dealership for various products.

Despite seawater inundation following the tsunami, a few local rice varieties were not affected by salinity. The characterization, cost of cultivation and farmers’ views on these varieties were documented and transferred to the Community Gene Bank at Chennai. Now the Gene Bank and the NVA are in the process of multiplying these seeds for dissemination.

INCOIS conducted interaction meetings for fishermen at Thangatchimadam Centre, explaining the features of INCOIS Digital Electronic Board set up by the Centre and its use. The Gulf of Mannar Trust and NVA/VRC organized an interaction meeting at which Mr Ramasubramaniyan, IFS, explained the activities of the Trust and the formation of Village Marine Councils (VMC). After the meeting two villages, Karaiyoor and Francis Nagar approached the Gulf of Mannar Trust for forming a VMC in their village.

Several awareness programmes were conducted at the Thangatchimadam, Thiruvaiyaru and Sempatti centres. A Gender Awareness Programme was also conducted at Thangatchimadam for SHG members covering issues of rights in custody, health, the importance of education and micro-enterprise training for self-employment. A woman farmer from Thiruvaiyaru, nominated by MSSRF, received the ASPEE award for the best woman rice farmer in the International Year of Rice, 2004.

National Alliance for Mission 2007: Every Village a Knowledge Centre

The small beginnings of the Information Village Project evolved into a National Alliance for Mission 2007: Every Village a Knowledge Centre . MSSRF conducted a Policy Makers’ Workshop on 8 and 9 October, 2003. The need for developing a master plan as well as a business plan for extending the benefits of ICT to all the 6,00,000 villages in India by 2007, which marks the 60 anniversary of our Independence, emerged strongly at the workshop.

Following this, in July 2004, MSSRF, OneWorld South Asia and NASSCOM Foundation initiated a National Alliance for Mission 2007 with an initial alliance of 80 partners. It was recommended that the alliance spread the rural knowledge centre movement and function like the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), without a legal structure. The Alliance has a Chairperson, Secretary General, Secretaries, and four task forces for connectivity, content, management of knowledge centres and resources. It also has a steering committee for Mission 2007. So far, six executive board meetings have been held. There are over 150 Alliance members now.

In the budget speech for 2005-2006, the Honourable Finance Minister supported the goal of Mission 2007 and provided Rs 100 crore to be disbursed by NABARD for VKCs.

about National Alliance for Mission 2007: Every Village a Knowledge Centre

“The National Commission on Farmers has recommended the establishment of Rural Knowledge Centres all over the country using modern information and communication technology (ICT). Mission 2007 is a national initiative launched by an alliance comprising nearly 80 organizations including civil society

organizations. Their goal is to set up a Knowledge Centre in every village by the 60th anniversary of Independence Day. Government supports the goal, and I am glad to announce that Government has decided to join the alliance and route its support through NABARD. I propose to allow NABARD to provide Rs 100 crore out of RIDF”.

– Budget speech by Shri P Chidambaram, Minister of Finance, GoI, 28 February, 2005

Following this, NABARD organized a one-day workshop on support to VKCs under RIDF at Mumbai on 4 April, 2005

. Participants from MSSRF, NASSCOM Foundation, Microsoft, NCF, Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd., ITC, representatives from TN, Pondicherry, Karnataka, AP, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Orissa, West Bengal, and Kerala governments, and NABARD officials participated. The existing egovernance plans, ICT grassroot initiatives, connectivity, content, setting up and management of VKCs, sustainability of VKCs, appropriate staffing arrangements and formation of state chapters of Mission 2007 were discussed. It was agreed that Connectivity, Content, Capacity Building and Care and Management of the VKCs are the 4 Cs crucial to the success of Mission 2007.

NVA Fellows

It is proposed to have a cadre of rural knowledge workers from across the country to create a stake in local ownership and management. Starting with a set of Master Trainers, the network will widen to cover a larger group in an expanding scale, in keeping with the aim of the NVA of reaching frontier technology to the resource poor rural women and men and enabling them to become masters of their own destiny. It will help to create large numbers of knowledge managers in our villages. This cadre of grassroot workers, both men and women, are to be elected as Fellows of the Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy for Rural Prosperity and trained to be master trainers for spearheading the knowledge revolution in rural India. In 2004, 6 Fellows were selected through a rigorous selection process as the first Fellows of the NVA. 137 grassroot workers were inducted as Fellows of the NVA at the second National Convention of Mission 2007 and the Convocation of the NVA inaugurated by the President of India in July, 2005.

The aim is to select one million Fellows by August 2010.