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Dear Vineeta and Shahid, This is very important question and I
fully support Vineeta’s 5 major challenges. On top of what was suggested, I would like
to add human resource development and capacity building. And I’m also happy to share my ideas on
this: There are two types of HRD and capacity building: 1. Technical. This is for people to
provide necessary technical support for utilization of the IT equipment. 2. Societal. This is for people who will
be using telecenters, with focus on using computers, Internet, it’s services
(e-mail, VoIP, etc) as well as with focus on benefiting from using this
services. Another point: I would like to bring in issue of the
software development. It could be included in the content, but can be looked up
as a separate challenge for development of the telecenters. Software development
is not about using proprietary software, but also about using software
developed locally, with which the people could be enhanced with new skills and
knowledge. This could a software for ICT in education, ICT in agriculture,
e-learning packages, With best regards L. Ariunaa, CEO, Intec Co. Ltd, "Your problems - our solutions", Baga toiruu - 49, Sukhbaatar district, Phone/Fax: 976-11-328570 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: www.itconsulting.mn
From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of vineeta dixit Dear Shahid, Your initiative to invite debate of the various issues related to
telecentres is indeed timely and welcome. I believe that most of the
issues faced by the telecentre projects are socio-political in nature. While
technology does play an important role and is becoming increasingly pervasive,
it perhaps is in today's context the least issue. From my perspective the following five are key chanllenges in the
implementation and sustianability of telecentre projects: 1. Community mobilisation for ownership: Most telecentre projects are
conceived and implemented from outside of communities that they are meant to
serve. Even in cases where the input is taken, it is more about taking
consent rather than understanding the requirement of community. In any case, it
is only in rare cases that the promoters of the telecentres conclude
that telecentre may not be a priority for the community at that given moment.
In such a scenario, it becomes critical that community needs to be
mobilised ( e.g. Akshaya Project and MSSRF projects in 2. Political committment: Since most of the telecentre projects are
meant to connect the isolated communities to the wider knowledge
world, enhance democratisation and open more avenues for opportunity,
it may not receive the desired support, also, telecentres in many
countries are also a source for delivering critical government information and
services and finally, monies for such projects is often controlled by
large donor agencies and governments that fund these agnecies. As has been
demonstrated amply in the last 50 years of AID industry, political committment
to cause is fickle at best and based on political expediency. As such,
political committment to such projects becomes essential to ensure its
success. 3. Long term financial committment: Owing to increased focussed on
commercialisation of social initiatives which get reflected
in demands related to sustainability and returns on investment, most
agencies/organisations are unwilling to commit or avail long-term funding for
telecentre projects. Very few are willing to face the fact that telecentres are
meant to serve hetherto under serviced communities who have faced decades if
not centuries of oppresion and isolation. How do we expect them to get
mobilised, become committed and ready to exploit the opportunities presented by
the project within a span of few years. we also need to understand that unlike
every business initiative that must make profit, we cannot demand that every
social initiave needs to make profit and must provide adequate returns on
investment. As a society we have certain social obligations that must be
fulfilled irrespective of whether they are profitable or not. 4. Appropriate content: Although content now is being given some
attention, it is perhaps an equally important if not the most important factor
determining the success of the telecentres. Initial content though may be
created by promoters of the project, but subsequent updates, and new content
must be created from the benefeciaries of the project (with the help of the
promoters if required) for they know best about what they need. Also, it cannot
be emphasied enough that the content is created in the local language. While
this issue may seem simplistic, it is perhaps one of the most important
challenges being faced. 5. Appropriate technology solution: There are many technological
challenges and most of them are widely known and discussed. Among them last
mile connectivity, appropriate standards for interoperability of software and
hardware, life span, cost, upgradability of technology and finally
technology related to content creation especially in languages that do not work
very well with ASCII are being addressed at different levels. I believe that
what we do need to do is encourage technology that can be easily adapted across
the world. Thus open source and UNICODE movement must be supported by the
initiators and promoters of the telecentre projects. Regards,
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