Review of CSCs as a Potential ICTs in Reaching Adolescents in Rural Areas

23rd25thOctober

2007

REVIEWREPORTBYABHIJITHJAYANTHI

ReviewofCSCsasaPotentialICTsinReachingAdolescentsinRuralAreas
Background:

2007

Withnearly54%ofthepopulationbelowtheageof25years,Indiahasoneofthelargestworkforceof youthcontributingsubstantiallytonationbuildingmakingthemcriticalstakeholdersinthedevelopment processes.Itthereforebecomesimperativetoaddresstheirneedsandconcerns.Themajorconcernsof youth are lack of information, proper education and employment opportunities intertwined with the larger issue of food security, proper livelihood conditions, poor health and the inability to represent theirinterestsatthepolicylevel. TheyouthinIndiahavetakentoITinabigway.AssuchthepotentialofInformationCommunication Technology (ICTs) in improving the health scenario, especially for the youth/adolescents is enormous. TheuseofICTcanacceleratethequalityandaccessibilityofinformationtotheyouthinbothruraland urbanareas.ICTasatwowaycommunicationtoolcanalsohelptounderstandthelocalproblemsand providesolutionswiththehelpofexpertsanddisseminatethesameinlocallanguages. ICTcentersalsoknownasinformationkiosksorknowledgecenters,canbesetupinallvillagesandsmall towns with certain basic facilities. It can be located at a school or a community center, provide information to people on related topics through the computer and other technologies like touch screens,bulletinboards,mobilephonesandothers.CurrentlytherearesomeeffectiveICTinterventions functioningusingvariousICTtoolsandbeingmanagedbyNGOs/CBOs,thestategovernmentsandthe privatesector. Support: The Entire effort has been coordinated by Ms. Geeta Narayan on behalf of UNFPA. The Field trip has beencoordinatedbyMr.ParveenBansalofIL&FSalongwithhiscolleaguesMr.YSrinivasandMr.Alok.I take this opportunity to convey my sincere thanks for the help and the support rendered by them withoutwhichthisreportmightnothavebeenpossible.IalsowouldliketothankDr.RenuSurifrom IL&FSforherinputswhichhelpedmeframethereport. Scope: To understand the scope of ICT centers to reach the youth as the part of the next UNFPA Country Program(currentoneiscomingtoacloseinDecember2007)itisproposedtoundertakearapidreview ofanexistingICTcentreintheneighboringstateofHaryana. TheScopeoftheReviewcanbeunderstoodasestimationabouthowRuralYoutharetakingtoInternet andotherITFacilitiesprovidedattheCSCs(ProcessbeingfacilitatedbyIL&FS)andpossiblemethodsto effectivelyreachthemwiththeuseofCSCs.Thereviewalsotriedtocapturetheinvolvementofvarious stakeholdersinenhancingtheutilizationofsuchcenters. ObjectivesofReview: Toexplorethevariouspossibilitiesofhowadolescentsinruralsettingscouldbereachedthroughthe functionalITKiosksestablishedbyGovernmentofIndia(FacilitatedbyIL&FS)andpossiblelinkupwith TeenClubsunderNYKS.

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Introduction: The field trip has been conducted during 23rd 25th October 2007 during which visits were made to various centers in and around Ambala Region and Panchkula Region. The Ambala Region can be consideredasaruralsettingwithlesseraccessorinfluenceoftheurbanCitieswhilePanchkulaRegion was closer to Panchkula/Chandigarh ( approx. 10kms) with decent access to urban areas. We have visited ParametersofReview: Thereviewhasbeenconductedwiththefollowingparameters: (a) AwarenessLeveloftheRuralYouthregardingtheCSCs (b) ServicesprovidedbytheCSCs (c) NeedsoftheruralyouthinregardtounderstandingtheirexpectationsfromCSCs (d) SettingsoftheCSCsinregardtolocation,easyaccessibilityandfacilitiesavailableatCSCs. (e) PotentialofCSCsinregardtoAcceptance (f) PotentialUseofCSCsformakingotheropportunitiesaccessibleforRuralYouth. (g) SustainabilityEffortsofCSCsi.e.Effortstosustainthemselvesinthelongerrun. Theabovementionedpointswhereusedinregardtoarrivingattheconclusionsandrecommendations whicharedescribedlaterinthereport. DiscussionofMainFindings: Anumberoffindingsduringthefieldvisitarediscussedbelow: 1. CSCshavegotawidereachprovidedenougheffortisputintoincreasethevisibilityoftheCSCs. Considerable effort in regard to the existence of CSCs has been put, but efforts in regard to the facilitiesavailableatCSCsandthepotentialgainfromtheservicesofCSCsneedstofocusedon. 2. UseofHomeLanguagewouldbeofconsiderableadvantageforapproachingtheruralsettingsI.e. Use of Haryanvi or Punjabi would have been more apt rather than Hindi. This would be of more significanceinSouthIndiaforteachinginthelocallanguagewouldbemoreaptanduserfriendly. 3. Efforts to further integrate them into the main stream are possible only when basics of common LanguageslikeEnglishorHindiareimparted.CSCsshouldmakeaneffortinregardtosimplesoft warestoteachbasicsofEnglishorHindiatBeginnersLevel. 4. Health and Hygiene is of primary importance. More so for Pregnant Women, CSCs have the potential to target the rural youth in educating them regarding various issues. One suggestion in thisregardwouldbeuseofAnganwadiSetupswhichalreadyexistacrossthevillages.Useofthe WorkersasfacilitatorsintermsofpiercingintotheruralhouseholdstoreachCSCsandgainfurther knowledge in regard to Health and Hygiene is advisable. It has been seen that CSCs are mostly locatedneartheAnganwadiCentersinVillages,sothisideashowsgreatpotential. 5. Sustainabilityoftheentireeffortisalsoanimportantpointwhichwasobserved,itisimportantthat fortheCSCSetupstofunction,continuoussupportoffundingisessential. 6. Empowering them with knowledge regarding Health and Hygiene should also be followed up by movingthefacilities totheruralareas.Intheabsenceofthesame,itisof nouse.Collaborating withHygieneCareProductandServiceProviderstosupplytheruralmarketthroughCSCswouldnot onlymeanrevenuefortheCSCsbutalsoprovidethenwithnecessaryfacilitiestoo. 7. The importance for mathematics is more compared to English and science, providing them with basics of mathematics would help them venture into startups i.e. it would encourage Entrepreneurshipwhichcanbefurthertappedtoreachgreatersectionofthevillage.

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8. GenderBasedNecessitiesinregardtoSexualHealthetc.mightbedifferent,itisimportanttofixan aptmechanismtoaddressthemseparatelysothatCSCsandthemechanismenjoycredibility. TowhatextentareresultstransferableoraretheycontextuallydependentistoseenbutIstronglyfeel CSCsspeakofattainmentandinstitutionaldevelopmentandwouldbeagreatsourcetobeutilizedto reachtheruralYouth. PossibleImpactofCSCsonRuralYouthasPotentialChannelstoreachRuralYouth: CSCsasanICThaveagreatpotentialthatneedstobetappedinordertoaffectivelyreachruralYouth.It isimportanthowevertounderstandthesustainabilityaspectofCSCforthemechanismshowsagreat amountofpromisebutifitcantsustainitselfthenitisofnouse.AttractiveMechanismwouldbethe onlyaddedrequirementsothatruralyouthareattractednotonlytoCSCsbutalsotheserviceswhich UNFPA wants to offer using this medium. Few Suggestions would be encouraging a spirit of healthy competition amongst the ruralyouthtoutilize Servicesprovidedby UNFPAsothattheyareattracted moretousethefacilitiesavailable.Addressinggenderbasednecessitiesisalsoanimportant.Focusing oncreation ofselfhelpgroups(Peer Groups)inregardtoHealthand Hygienewould helpin termsof takingtheservicesoutfromtheCSCs;thiscanbedoneusingNYKSandCSCsinitially.Thisshallnotonly promote a sense of identity for the community but also leadership role amongst youth to take lead, comeforwardwiththeirqueriesregardinghealthandhygieneandtheycanbesupportedwithpossible remediesforthesame. Barriers: ApartfromtheidentifiedbarriersofICTs,fewoftheotherbarriersaretheadaptabilityofCSCswithtime i.e.itisnotonlyimportanttogiveafacilitybutalsotoempowerthemtocomeontothesameplatform astheirurbancounterparts.Anothersignificantbarrierifnotproperlychalkedoutwouldbethelevels of engagement in CSCs. These are directly related to the quality and quantity of Village Local EntrepreneurandSupportTeamTrainingProgramsonacontinualbasis. SuggestionsandRecommendations: 1.CareerGuidanceandCounselingforHygiene: Ithasbeenobservedthatmostoftheruralyouthareinneedofinformationintermsofopportunities andcareercounseling.ItisimportanttonotethatCareerplaysanimportantroleinmaintainingagod health.EarlyJobsensureearlyaccesstomoneywhichisnotfavorablewithoutconsiderableknowledge of negative effects of Gateway Drugs like Cigarettes, alcohol and other substances which might see cases of substance and drug abuse. Proper Career and Hygiene Counseling is essential for the rural youth and CSCs possess a great potential for educating the rural youth for the presence of a wide networkandtheeasyaccessibilityofCSCsmakeitagoodbet. 2.FusionofFunandLearning: Itisimportanttoengagetheyouthwithdifferentattractivethingstooffersothattheyareattractedto theCSCs.Fusionoffunandlearningisessential.NYKScanbeusedinthisregardtomakeCSCsandthe serviceswhichareofferedmorefun. Participation ofNYKSinCSCpromotionis essentialnotonlyfor sustainingCSCsbutalsothatyouthinthevillageconnecttotheCSCandvisitit.Useofmoregraphics andimagerywouldalsohelptheeffortsinceitinvolvestheUser.

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3.SupporttheTransformationprocessandManagementofChange: ItisnotonlyimportanttounderstandandanalyzehowthisCSCswouldgrowandtaptheruralpotential but also it is also to support the transformation process and manage the change. The exciting start shouldbesustainedwithmakingoptionsandopportunitiesavailablefortheruralyouthtoexplore. 4.InnovationinImplementationandApproachregardingServices: Independent learning is an essential advantage with ICT since it allows for greater differentiation with programs tailored to users need, they can use it according to their own ability and assimilate knowledgeattheirownpace.Serviceswhicharedesignedmustkeepthisinmindsothatuserlevelis properlyaddressedi.e.effectivelyutilizetheICT. 5.Improvenewcompetencies: ICT impact on competency development specifically team work and independent learning. These competencies should be utilized, establishment of peer groups would be one suggestions which I already pointed out since it improves the competency levels of the youth. It also would support a concept of self help. Once the program ends, it would help them to continue with their group that is established and probably use facilities like Internet etc to access knowledge and understand required informationwiththehelpofbasicsprovidedduringtheUNFPAProgram. 6.Focusoncontentandsupportservices: Thevalueofaccesstoknowledgeisonlytheinitialstep.Thelackofaccesstoappropriatecontentto followitupisamajorbarrierwhichshouldbeaddressedsothattheEffortsdontgothedrain. 7.EnvironmentofCSCs: Improvement of Environment or settings of CSCs would help the cause for it would mean greater attentiontoCSCswhichwouldmeangreateraccessorinteresttoaccesstoservicesprovided.Thiscan alsobeachievedbyprovidinghealthorhygienerelatedfacilitiesusingCSCssothatitwouldalsoprovide somekindofvalueaddserviceovertheknowledgeimpartedwhichtheruralyouthcanutilize.

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