1. WSIS Grassroots Caucus Consultation 10-12 th July 2005 National Agricultural Science Complex, New Delhi Outcome of three day Consultation

2. PARTICIPATION Participants were from villages of 15 states/UTs. Participants were from villages of 15 states/UTs. A small group from Nepal and Sri Lanka was also present. A small group from Nepal and Sri Lanka was also present. Mixed group in case of literacy, language, culture etc. but having good understanding, based on their experience, on various development issues. Mixed group in case of literacy, language, culture etc. but having good understanding, based on their experience, on various development issues. Gender balance in participation. Gender balance in participation.

3. WSIS & MDGs

4. . Identification of development issues by the participants Identification of development issues by the participants Health Health Education Education Environment Environment Gender Gender Livelihood. Livelihood.

5. Grassroots Voices : Lack of appropriate information/practices in all spheres, health, education, livelihood, environment and gender. Lack of appropriate information/practices in all spheres, health, education, livelihood, environment and gender. Non-availability of quality human/infrastructural services. Non-availability of quality human/infrastructural services. Discriminatory practices based on caste, gender and disability etc. Discriminatory practices based on caste, gender and disability etc. Accessibility and affordability in relation to services. Need to reach the unreached and meet the unmet needs. Accessibility and affordability in relation to services. Need to reach the unreached and meet the unmet needs. Discrimination against women at all stages of life. Discrimination against women at all stages of life.

6. Women’s economic contribution towards family/public/nation has no co-relation with her overall status. Women’s economic contribution towards family/public/nation has no co-relation with her overall status. Lack of knowledge/skills to cope-up with changing trends in all spheres, specially on livelihoods. Lack of knowledge/skills to cope-up with changing trends in all spheres, specially on livelihoods. Water and sanitation is a major concern Water and sanitation is a major concern Global warming and disaster management were issues highlighted. Global warming and disaster management were issues highlighted.

7. Lack of skill enhancement in all sectors. Lack of skill enhancement in all sectors. Accessibility to and cost of credit is a problem. Accessibility to and cost of credit is a problem. Education has not yet been perceived as a fundamental right. Need to address in a holistic manner. Education has not yet been perceived as a fundamental right. Need to address in a holistic manner.

8. Suggested solutions : People-centric education in all spheres. People-centric education in all spheres. Youth should be involved in all programmes. Youth should be involved in all programmes. Regular refresher training for all service providers. Regular refresher training for all service providers. Role of governance at the micro-level. Role of governance at the micro-level. Statutory committees at panchayat level for linkage/management and monitoring mechansim. Statutory committees at panchayat level for linkage/management and monitoring mechansim. Legal reforms in favour of women related to their right to property, equal wages etc to be made and implemented. Legal reforms in favour of women related to their right to property, equal wages etc to be made and implemented.

9. Effective delivery of government schemes and support services. Effective delivery of government schemes and support services. Creation of a Livelihood Security Fund. Creation of a Livelihood Security Fund. Promoting use of organic pesticides and enforcement of laws against banned pesticides. Promoting use of organic pesticides and enforcement of laws against banned pesticides. Need to transfer Research and Development from lab to land. Need to transfer Research and Development from lab to land. Community ownerships of forests, promotion and protection of agro-forestry. Community ownerships of forests, promotion and protection of agro-forestry.

10. HOW TO MOVE FURTHER? Capacity building Capacity building Community needs assessment was emphasised. Community needs assessment was emphasised. Community participation and networking Community participation and networking Coordination among various stakeholders Govt./Non-Govt. at all levels. Coordination among various stakeholders Govt./Non-Govt. at all levels. Creating effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation mechanism with bottom-up approach. Creating effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation mechanism with bottom-up approach.

11. The role of ICT enabled knowledge centres at the grassroots to accelerate the MDGs

12. Information & Communication tools currently in use Print media: Newspapers, Pamphlets, Posters, Booklets, Newsletters. Print media: Newspapers, Pamphlets, Posters, Booklets, Newsletters. Traditional Media: Street Plays, Puppet Shows, Folk Media, Meetings. Traditional Media: Street Plays, Puppet Shows, Folk Media, Meetings. Interpersonal communication still seen as an important source of information sharing, with Gram Sabhas and SHGs playing a significant role. Interpersonal communication still seen as an important source of information sharing, with Gram Sabhas and SHGs playing a significant role.

13. Telephone Telephone Mobile phones Mobile phones Cable TV Cable TV Radio/ Community Radio Radio/ Community Radio Wireless technology Wireless technology Computers & Accessories Computers & Accessories Internet Internet ICT Tools in Development

14. Usage of ICTs for reaching the unreached Radio-ham radio and Wireless for community awareness, education, training and empowerment. Radio-ham radio and Wireless for community awareness, education, training and empowerment. Telephone help-lines could be reached to un-reached for knowledge and counseling on sensitive issues. Telephone help-lines could be reached to un-reached for knowledge and counseling on sensitive issues. Cable TV as a source for knowledge sharing but recurring cost was the issue. Cable TV as a source for knowledge sharing but recurring cost was the issue.

15. Issues underpinning WSIS plan of action

16. Knowledge Centres : Content : Content for knowledge Blend of local and global knowledge which should be collected, collated, conceptualized and computerized as per local needs. Blend of local and global knowledge which should be collected, collated, conceptualized and computerized as per local needs. The whole process should be supported by a well- designed network of human resources/institutions/organizations etc. The whole process should be supported by a well- designed network of human resources/institutions/organizations etc. Local language was a concern. Local language was a concern. Mandatory provision of contents by all government departments. Mandatory provision of contents by all government departments. CBOs should collect the local contents. CBOs should collect the local contents.

17. Connectivity Wireless is the most preferred option, but it should be based on the geographical specifications. Wireless is the most preferred option, but it should be based on the geographical specifications. Dial-up options were suggested again based on the viability. Dial-up options were suggested again based on the viability.

18. Capacity building Capacity building is needed at various levels in relation to publicizing, mobilizing, creating awareness and sensitizing communities. Capacity building is needed at various levels in relation to publicizing, mobilizing, creating awareness and sensitizing communities. Nominations should be from all the existing groups in the villages. Nominations should be from all the existing groups in the villages. Need to develop training modules based on the whole mechanism keeping in view various aspects, for effective running of the tele- centers. Need to develop training modules based on the whole mechanism keeping in view various aspects, for effective running of the tele- centers. Refresher courses from time to time. Refresher courses from time to time. Data-bank of local resource persons to be contacted at the time of need. Data-bank of local resource persons to be contacted at the time of need. Online and regular face-to-face interface for learning and sharing experiences. Online and regular face-to-face interface for learning and sharing experiences. Responsibility and the funding mechanism was a question. Responsibility and the funding mechanism was a question.

19. Care, control and management CBOs, SHGs, Panchayats should have the ownership supported by outside agencies, may be government/non-government. CBOs, SHGs, Panchayats should have the ownership supported by outside agencies, may be government/non-government. Village Knowledge Centre Management Committees for day-to- day running of the centers. Village Knowledge Centre Management Committees for day-to- day running of the centers. Funding for infrastructure could be provided by government/private agencies as a grant but for recurring cost could be met by the community. Funding for infrastructure could be provided by government/private agencies as a grant but for recurring cost could be met by the community. A Steering Committee from the Alliance for supervision of the whole mechanism for smooth running of the tele-centers. A Steering Committee from the Alliance for supervision of the whole mechanism for smooth running of the tele-centers.

20. Coordination Coordination mechanism has to be built-in for content generation, connectivity, capacity building and care & management. Coordination mechanism has to be built-in for content generation, connectivity, capacity building and care & management. Youth groups, mahila groups already existing in the villages should be involved in the process of content generation and dissemination and effective utilization of the tele-centres. Youth groups, mahila groups already existing in the villages should be involved in the process of content generation and dissemination and effective utilization of the tele-centres. Hub and spokes model should be promoted. Hub and spokes model should be promoted. Coordination committees should be formed at various levels for follow-up mechanism. Coordination committees should be formed at various levels for follow-up mechanism. A few services should be charged and a few should be free. A few services should be charged and a few should be free.

21. Four types of knowledge centers were discussed Four types of knowledge centers were discussed –Community-run tele-centers –Entrepreneurship models –Government-run tele-centers –Panchayat-run tele-centers The community-run tele-centers were unanimously accepted. The community-run tele-centers were unanimously accepted. The MODEL KNOWLEDGE CENTRE