Hello all Although this thread is closed for traffic, I am allowing this posting so as to enable the concerned organization to clarify their stand and all to appreciate the discussion and thought process behind theirstand. This thread continues to be closed. Harish.
-----Original Message----- From: Prashant Verma [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 9:16 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected]; Kotian, H P Cc: [email protected]; Rummi Seth Subject: Re: [AI] Limited scheme for mobile phones Dear Mr. Amarjit & Mr. Vimal, This is in response to your emails (copied below ) on the accessindia mailing list. Since I was involved to some extent in framing of the terms & conditions of the scheme, I think it is my responsibility to post the clarifications. Mr. Harish may put this on accessindia list if deemed fit. As pointed out in the scheme notice & also advocated by you the objective of this exercise is to give this mobile phone to persons who have not been able to afford this technology due to economic reasons. Saksham has a very small number of such mobile phones for distribution at this extremely low cost due to some contributions from NOKIA. I hope you will agree with the following points 1. That there must be hundreds & thousands of visually impaired persons in the Delhi region who cannot afford to pay Rs. 7000 or more presently required for getting such phones. 2. That Saksham being a small organisation cannot screen the applications from various parts of the country. 3. Saksham wants to verify the claims specially the income status of the applicants before giving them the phones. This is why information about the occupation of the applicant along with his/her family members has been requested in the form. The applicants have also been asked to give reference of two persons who can verify the information provided by them. Saksham can to some extent verify the applications received from the Delhi region but it will be almost impossible to verify the applications from different parts of the country. 4. Since this scheme is "limited" - only few such mobiles are available, there is no point in inviting applications from all over the country. Saksham could have received hundreds & thousands of applications from all over the country had it been open for persons from all over the country. 5. We have to admit that even after the best of intentions the benefit of certain schemes do not actually reach the intended persons. I am afraid we do not have a communication channel which can spread information of such schemes among the most needy persons. People who need such phones may not have access to emails, they may be illiterate & they may not have access to institutions for the blind. I wonder how one organisation can reach to those needy persons in the rural & remote parts of the country. I really wish such a strong network develops in due course of time. At present, this scheme information was spread through the available channels of communication that is website, emails, notices, calls to institutions for the blind & word of mouth. As announced by Saksham, it will continue to strive for making technology affordable & accessible for visually impaired persons all over the country. If such efforts are successful, there may be a similar scheme for the rest of the country. On your part, please continue to encourage & support at least the organisations in your region for framing such schemes for the benefit of visually impaired persons . . And let us please take up the task of providing speech on mobiles in Indian languages! At present it is only in English & good for a very few. Regards, Prashant Verma -------------------------------------------------- From: "Kotian, H P" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:29 PM To: <[email protected]> Subject: [AI] Moderator: Re: Limited scheme for mobile phones > Hello all > > I am pained to see the thread moving. Please understand this list is not > to throw opinion on activities of any other member organizations. > > When the offer was made, the authorities would have given fair > considerations to all the issues raised. Members are requested to offer > their opinion on suggestions or modifications to any schemes or offering > directly to the appropriate authority and not to use the list for it. > This thread is now closed for all discussions. > Harish. > -------------------------------------------------- From: "Amarjit Powar" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 11:40 AM To: <[email protected]> Cc: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [AI] Limited scheme for mobile phones > Hello AI friends and Saksham authorities, > While this may not affect me, I wholeheartedly support Vimaldengla's > outcry for the talking mobile phones to be allocated first where they are > needed the most. As Vimaldengla has rightly pointed out, the majority of > the NCRT listers have numerous other method for communication. It's these > people in the remote areas who need these facilities the greatest. > Without a thorough review of the dispensing policy by Saksham, one is only > compelled to call it a discriminatory and unfair policy in totality. > Saksham is not carrying out a charity handout, but is charging for its > services. Considerations should be provided to people in areas where > people would have to walk miles to get to the closest PCO; how difficult > it must be for a VIP otherwise. > Could Saksham review its policies, please? > With best regards, > Amarjit Powar > Calgary, Alberta, Canada > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "vimaldengla" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 9:17 PM > Subject: Re: [AI] Limited scheme for mobile phones > > >> sir, >> very good offer but not fair one as it is limited only for Delhi and >> n.c.r. area. >> there are several other criteria's which should be considered while >> giving these mobiles I.e. the economic condition of the blind, the need >> and utility for the individual, talking mobile may be more important for >> a blind residing in the remote area of Rajasthan or u.p as compared to >> for the student in Delhi as the student in Delhi can easily access the >> computer and other libraries in Delhi for his needs but the blind man of >> village may not be able to see the talking mobile or computer, so the >> talking mobile can be more useful for the villagers. please reconsider >> this offer and allow all blind persons at least to apply for the talking >> mobile and in any case final decision will be yours to select the needy >> persons. >> >> please excuse me if I said some thing wrong, if you do not change your >> offer, it will still be useful for the blind persons. we will wait for >> another offer from saksham. >> once again sorry and with due regards >> yours >> vkd >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "M. Chandra Shekar" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 8:08 PM >> Subject: Re: [AI] Limited scheme for mobile phones >> >> >>> hello sir, I request saksham to extend this kind of offer to blind >>> persons those who are residing other cities. either by reduction in the >>> cost of talking software or some other type. regards. m.chandru >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Dipendra Manocha" <[email protected]> >>> To: <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 7:34 PM >>> Subject: [AI] Limited scheme for mobile phones >>> >>> >>>> SAKSHAM TALKING MOBILE >>>> PHONE FOR THE BLIND >>>> >>>> Saksham, after bringing the mobile screen reading software within reach >>>> of >>>> the visually impaired in India is now launching this limited scheme for >>>> extending the benefits of accessible mobile phone to those for whom it >>>> is >>>> still a dream. There are very limited number of handsets as of now and >>>> there fore, this should be seen as one time offer for just a few lucky >>>> ones. >>>> Due to the limited number of handsets available, only Students of >>>> higher >>>> education or persons working in NGOs may apply and that also only from >>>> the >>>> Delhi NCR Region. We hope to work out schemes in future of larger >>>> scale. >>>> >>>> Saksham had started the revolution in the field of talking mobile >>>> phones for >>>> the blind in India by offering the TALKS mobile screen reading software >>>> at >>>> one third of its international cost in India in the year 2006. This >>>> initiative allowed hundreds of blind persons to take advantage of this >>>> great >>>> empowering technology. Blind persons were now able to use the mobile >>>> phone >>>> for all its functions read & write SMS, maintain address book, >>>> reminders, >>>> calendar & even listen to talking books. Saksham initiative resulted in >>>> a >>>> massive price reduction of the other screen reading software for mobile >>>> phones thereby bringing this great tool within reach of many more. >>>> >>>> Even after achieving such great reduction in prices of talking >>>> softwares for >>>> the mobile phones the cost of owning this great tool stands at a >>>> minimum of >>>> Rs. 10000 which is beyond the reach of majority of visually impaired >>>> persons. This has been a great concern for Saksham & therefore this >>>> scheme >>>> has been launched. >>>> >>>> Under this scheme, a limited number of Nokia 3230 mobile phones loaded >>>> with >>>> the Talks screen reading software will be provided at nominal prices to >>>> visually impaired persons who due to limited income have not been able >>>> to >>>> afford this technology as yet. >>>> >>>> New Nokia 3230 with Talks (full version): Rs. 4000 only >>>> New Nokia 3230 with Talks (demo version): Rs. 2000 only >>>> >>>> Terms & conditions: >>>> >>>> 1. Presently this offer is only for Visually impaired residents of >>>> Delhi NCR region working in NGOs at non-executive positions and >>>> Students >>>> with Vision impairment pursuing post graduate studies in Delhi. >>>> 2. Interested persons should fill up the application forms available >>>> through Saksham offices. These forms can also be downloaded from >>>> www.saksham.org and submitted at any of the four Saksham offices >>>> mentioned >>>> below on days and timings mentioned with them. >>>> 3. The applicants must agree with the terms & conditions provided in >>>> the application form. The mobile phone given under this scheme should >>>> be >>>> used by the applicant only & in no case should be sold or transferred >>>> to >>>> another person. >>>> 4. A Saksham committee will select the persons who will be given these >>>> mobile phones from the applicants & its decision will be final. >>>> 5. Saksham or Nokia will not be able to provide any warranty on the >>>> phones offered under this scheme. >>>> >>>> Last date for application: 31 January 2009 >>>> For more information please contact: >>>> >>>> Mr. Prashant Verma or Ms. Deepika Sood >>>> >>>> Saksham Addresses: >>>> >>>> 1. Saksham, >>>> 486, Double Storey, New Rajendra Nagar, >>>> New Delhi - 110060. >>>> Ph: 42411015 >>>> Email: [email protected] >>>> (Monday to Friday from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.) >>>> >>>> 2. Saksham Appliances centre >>>> DU-NTPC Foundation ICT Training Centre >>>> Central Library >>>> Faculty of Arts, Opposite SRCC College >>>> North Campus, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 >>>> Ph: 27662602 >>>> Email: [email protected] >>>> Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.M. till 5 P.M. >>>> >>>> 3. Saksham Appliances Centre >>>> National Association for the Blind >>>> Sector 5, R.K. Puram >>>> New Delhi 110022 >>>> Ph: 26162707 >>>> Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10:30 A.M. till 5 P.M. >>>> >>>> 4. Saksham Daksh School >>>> D69, Sector 55 >>>> NOIDA, UP >>>> Ph: 95120-4238929 >>>> Monday till Friday from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. >>>> >>>> >>>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus >>>> signature >>>> database 3741 (20090105) __________ >>>> >>>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >>>> >>>> http://www.eset.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] >>>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>>> >>>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>>> please visit the list home page at >>>> >>>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] >>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>> >>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>> please visit the list home page at >>> >>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > Notice: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. 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