COMMUNITY INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTRE An initiative of An initiative of

VISION Creating information-empowered, equitable communities by providing digital access to information, knowledge and online services MISSION Building connected public spaces through community participation to reach the unreached and ensure digital inclusion VALUES Promoting diversity, inclusivity, sustainability and protecting environment, heritage and culture besides respect for natural resources are cross cutting ethos and values of all CIRCs

CIRCs to work as Community driven bottom- up public spaces Which seek to bridge information & access divide By creating information empowered communities And facilitating digital inclusion (esp. underserved/mar ginalized )

WHY we do? WHAT we do? HOW we do? at CIRCs To bridge the digital divide Connecting marginalized communities to the mainstream through ICT tools Bringing digital, internet &citizen services to the rural communities at nominal cost Information access points in remotest, underserved regions of the country Capacitating and training rural youth, communities in basic & employable ICT skills Information dissemination on welfare schemes & govt. entitlements, etc… Awareness on social issues pertaining to health, women, rights & entitlements etc.. Knowledge generation, culture preservation with the help of ICT tools Entrepreneurship & business development of rural/social enterprises, CBOs, individuals etc..

Where are we working? * 140 centres in 23 States ( includes running & proposed centres both)

*108 running centres in 20 states * 33 Fresh/ Proposed set ups in 20 States (includes 3 new states)

CIRC Coverage in Backward Districts (BRGF)

Activities undertaken by different CIRCs at different levels depending upon the community need Digital Literacy (Active across all centres) Information dissemination Entrepreneurs hip training & Skill building Capacity building & Training Community Engagement & Awareness (Active across all centres) Community Radio e-Governance Digitization of Panchayat Digital Services (Active across all centres)

SERVICES Digital Services Internet browsing Documents printing Scanning Photocopying Photo Printing Information Services Information dissemination on welfare schemes, rights& entitlements etc.. Filling RTI applications Aadhar/Voter/Pan card enrollments Filling & filing online applications/forms Citizen Services Bill payment services Online booking of Railway/Bus/Air tickets wi-fi access Business development Website development Social Media services/marketi ng Digitization & business processes development

How we have been able to create widespread socio -cultural and impact through our CIRCs? Our CIRCs serve as community space for social togetherness. No biases (gender, caste, class, region, religion) are entertained. Our CIRCs are community learning centres. Equipped community individuals with basic ICT skills spread across different age groups coming from different communities including marginalized. Increased access to information and rights & entitlements in rural (neglected) communities (households)- for e.g- Bheels, Sehriya communities etc.. Empowered rural women by providing digital platform, equipping them with basic ICT skills, taught them how to access information from internet and its usage in everyday life. Created and mentored women entrepreneurs who are now managing their own centres- for e.g- Reena Sehriya from Baran, Shahana from Shivpuri, Sunita from Ranchi (she is now working with NRHM). Created a significant majority of informed and empowered citizens. Our CIRCs are also serving as a local knowledge generation and preservation centre for e.g- Bhapang artists from Mungaska. Imparted basic digital literacy to unemployed youth. A lot of them are now running their own small businesses for e.g- Mini digital services shop in Odisha, Rajasthan, MP,UP and many more. Opened multiple opportunities of learning & growth for community women, girls, children,youth and elderlies who have never been to school or have never seen a computer. Digital literates created their online presence (facebook, , twitter etc..) Knowledge transfer of digital skills by students coming to CIRCs to their family, friends, peers and communities at large Trained ‘first generation digital literates ‘ in many families

Programme Achievements Digital Literacy Trained 26,000 Digital literates since 2007 Information Services 25,000 citizens availed information services Digital Literacy people have availed digital services Livelihood Generation Opportunities Enabled livelihood opportunities for 8000 individuals Gender & ICT Trained women in digital literacy under HWGO programme Digitization & Business Processes Development Digitally enabled 3 public libraries Community Engagement Trained 3000 individuals under MCGY programme

Growth of CIRCs since 2007

Partnership & Collaboration Community Engagement Resource & Knowledge support Capacity Building Training & Services Rural Business Solutions How we engage with communities and stakeholders

Towards sustainability model Infrastruct ure Sourced or Funded Basic CIRC Model 1 Model 2 Infrastructure- Sourced or Funded = Entrepreneur s Local Partner/s Entreprene urship model Model 3 Infrastruct ure- Sourced or Funded Local Partner/s Entrepre neur Cooperati ve model Model 4 Model 1 + Model 2 +Model 3 + Model 4 = Model 5 i.e Social Enterprise Infrastructur e-Sourced or Funded Local Partner/s Entrepren eur Cooperati ve/s Federation model

PARTNERS

Future Vision for CIRCs CIRCs To operate as Rural BPO Hardware &software assembling centre Mini Libraries integrated in each CIRC Skill developm ent centre Knowledg e centre Communit y owned, community led centre Cyber Cafe Educatio nal institute Mini IT hub

Contact Us Digital Empowerment Foundation House No. 44, 2nd & 3rd Floor (Next to Naraina IIT Academy) Kalu Sarai, (Near IIT Flyover) New Delhi – Tel: / Fax: URL: