Scheme of Village Knowledge Centre Title: Village Knowledge Centre Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the key enabler and a vital component of the new knowledge based economy and information revolution. It is a major factor in economic growth and increasing productivity. India is increasingly integrating ICT into its national development plans and adopting strategies for its widespread promotion in all the spheres of economic activities. There is a need to ensure that the benefit of the ICT percolates to all the different socio-economic strata and to the grass roots of the rural India. The rural areas in India cannot be compared with its urban areas, where needs and service requirements are at a very different level. With poor existing infrastructure in the rural areas, delivery of services of essential requirements becomes in itself formidable task in its 6,40,000 villages spread out in every type of agroclimatic zones. Along with the improvement of physical infrastructure, the government has shown firm commitment to improve the e-infrastructure especially in the villages, through its National egovernance Plan. According to the guidelines provided by Department of IT, it has been mandated that the government would create an enabling environment for establishment of at least 100,000 centres in rural areas by the year 2007 to provide all possible services. Fitting into this overall e-governance plan, CAPART proposes to introduce an e- governance initiative to reach the un-reached, un-served and underserved areas more effectively by using state-of-the-art high-tech Information and Communication Technology through its partner NGOs by setting up Village Knowledge Centre (VKC). What is VKC Scheme? The Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) is a place to render distant services from a single window point to rural masses especially in remote areas of the country through modern Information and Communication Technology. The knowledge centre will be connected to a central studio using technologies viz WiMax/VSAT/leased line. There will be live interactive sessions in real time by the central speaker with audience at remote villages or content already prepared on any subject that the rural communities might need or desire, will be disseminated. The purpose of setting up of a VKC is to bring access to a range of services, content and information to people living in remote villages or areas which do not provide such access otherwise. Objective: The VKC programme is meant for reaching the benefits of the Information Technology directly to the communities at the grass root level for promoting single window delivery of need-based services relating to the life cycle needs of rural population, viz. rain water harvesting, nutritional information including primary Page 1 of 8
processing of fruits and vegetables, rural sanitation, preventive and curative aspects of health and hygiene, skill development and linkage with market requirements and demands, capacity building among village based organisations and people or on any issue that the rural communities would desire. Location : Rural areas Target group/beneficiaries: Economically disadvantaged sections of the society, selfhelp groups (SHGs) Stake holders: CAPART, NGO, District Administration, Village Panchayats, Local Communities. Specification (Technical & Functional): Central Site : Remote Site : Connectivity : The originating point of information dissemination. The receiving point of information from the central site. WiMax/VSAT/Leased Line/ISDN Technologies The central studio, a conference room from where the speaker will deliver the interactive real time or pre-recorded programmes, will have audio/video systems, Computers, Printers, UPSs, CPCB certified Diesel Generator Sets and Wireless Broadband radio link /VSAT/Leased Line/ISDN lines. The central site will also have a Windows XP Media centre enabled PC with TV tuner card to take the input from Video Conferencing equipment for digitizing, archiving and on demand conducting playback. The remote location i.e. Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) will have audio / video system, printer, UPS and CPCB certified DG set and Wireless Broadband radio link /VSAT/Leased Line/ISDN lines. The remote site will also have a Windows XP Media centre enabled PC with TV tuner card to take the input from the Video Conferencing equipment for digitizing, archiving and on demand conducting playback. Proposal can be submitted for setting up of both Central and Remote or for remote site only in case central studio for that area already exists. Criterion for Selection of NGO: A proven track record and adequate experience in implementation of developmental programmes at grass-root level. Professional capabilities to disseminate and demonstration information through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Expertise in networking/linkages and interaction with State and National level governmental or non-governmental Institutions Presence of NGO/ staff of NGO in the project area. Any Lead NGO or any other NGOs recommended by state governments or based on CAPART s own experiences and information. Page 2 of 8
Responsibilities of the NGO: Proposal will be submitted for setting up of Central and Remote site. In case the central studio is available in project area, then only setting up of the remote site i.e. Village Knowledge Centre will be considered and will be set up by CAPART. The space for setting up of central/remote site will be made available by NGO (detail enclosed in the Annexure-1). NGO will identify need based activities which will be taken up through proposed Village Knowledge Centre focusing on income generation. Detailed methodology and modus operandi for content generation for the knowledge centre. NGO will provide training, orientation and awareness generation to Local Communities for using the Knowledge Centre. NGO will undertake capacity building of beneficiaries and other NGOs through these Centres Selection of suitable subject matter specialist (if required) to deliver lecture at Central Site Preparation of trained personnel for smooth operation and maintenance of all equipments of Village Knowledge Centre/Central Studio. Time line/schedule of activities. Responsibilities of CAPART : After approval of proposal submitted by NGO, CAPART will select an Implementing Agency to set up the Central and Remote Site and hand it over to NGO within 6 to 12 months time. Operational Cost for initial 3 years for central/remote site for the items mentioned at Annexure-2. Programme Cost as mentioned at Annexure-3. Necessary funding for content generation. Any other assistance to facilitate for setting up of VKC Expected Outcome: Dissemination of knowledge and services to the under-served, un-served and unreached areas Better skilled and oriented cadres and individuals Training of trainers Capacity enhanced at the grass root level Modern human resource practices for efficient service delivery. Improved organisation and better decision making ability in the community Improved capacity within communities to manage VKC systems Networking of governmental, non-governmental institutions, PRIs, SHGs Knowledge Connectivity Better opportunity of employment Availability of online market rates and better marketing of rural produce. Page 3 of 8
Progress Report: Quarterly progress report of programme activities will be submitted to CAPART by NGO Utilization certificates Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism: Activities/programmes will be monitored by a Technical Committee constituted by CAPART. Pattern of CAPART Assistance: The NGO may apply under Advancement of Rural Technology Scheme (ARTS) and scrutiny of documents will go through CAPART approval cycles and competent agency will set up the VKC. Financial assistance will be provided for the following components: To meet the operational expenditure for central/remote site for initial 3 years, Content generation Capacity building and training of NGOs/communities Community organisation and orientation Any other component related to the local need Impact assessment of the project will be done after 1 year of implementation of the project. Sustainability of the Project : CAPART will bear the maintenance cost for first 3 years. A mechanism will be devised for sustainability of the project, e.g. Creation of revolving fund to meet the salaries of skilled/unskilled personnel involved for running the project after the completion of the project. Participatory Planning and Implementation: NGO will hold regular consultation (at least once in 3 months) in the project area with the local community involving all the stake holders and the following: Block/District administration Village level functionaries NGO representatives/project authorities Representatives from any other local NGO Community leaders and representatives of local interest groups Representative from women s group Page 4 of 8
Village Knowledge Centre R-1 R-2 R-n Central Studio (Coordinator)... R-3 B... R-5 R-4 Remote Sites: R-1 R-2 R-3 R-n Batch(s) Session(s): s n NGOs: n 1 n 2 n 3 n n Activities: a 1 a 2 a 3 a n Resource Persons: r 1 r 2 r 3 r n Training Programme: t 1 t 2 t 3 t n Page 5 of 8
SPACE REQUIREMENT Annexure 1 At Central Site: 1 One room of size 20 x 25 to install the equipment 2 Space to install communication equipment (Wireless/VSAT) 3 Space to keep Diesel Generator set. At Remote Site: 1 One room of size 10 x 15 to install the equipment 2 Space to install communication equipment (Wireless/VSAT) 3 Space to keep Diesel Generator set. Page 6 of 8
Annexure-2 Operational Expenditure (OPEX) (subject to actuals): Sr. Items of Expenditure Unit Cost Total Expenditure (per year) Central Site : 1. AMC for Equipment Annual 1,00,000 2. Printer Toner @ 1 per month 3,000 36,000 3. Diesel for Generator set @ 125 litres per month 35 52,500 4. Office Stationery (Lump Sum) 2,000 24,000 5. Trained Computer Personnel 15,000 1,80,000 6. Two Security Guards charges 3,000 72,000 7. Other Contingencies 2,000 24,000 Remote Site : Total Central Site OPEX 4,88,500 1. AMC for Equipment Annual 1,20,000 2. Printer Toner @ 1 per month 3,000 36,000 3. Diesel for Generator set @ 60 litres per month 35 25,200 4. Office Stationery (Lump Sum) 1,000 12,000 5. Trained Computer Personnel 15,000 1,80,000 6. Two Security Guards charges 3,000 72,000 7. Other Contingencies 1,000 12,000 Total Remote Site OPEX 4,57,200 Grand Total OPEX Pilot Project 9,45,700 Page 7 of 8
Annexure-3 Suggested Programme Cost (subject to actuals): at Central Site: S.No. Description Amount (in Rs.) 1. Content Generation Demonstration Materials / Documentation of Models (e.g. CD/Software) a. Preparation of Advocacy Material b. Documents, Audio Visual c. Software, CDs d. Material Collection / Adaptation / Translation 5,00,000/- 2. 3. 4. e. Success stories on innovation from Remote Site to be documented for dissemination from Central Site to other Remote Sites Capacity Building of NGO (one week duration) i. Learning Materials per Batch 1,500/- iii Local Transport / DA 5,000/- Training of local community (3 days) i. Stipend to Participants ii. iii. i. Learning Materials per Batch Local Transport /DA Resource Person for Interactive Sessions i. Remuneration @Rs.500 1,000/- per session, depending on qualification and specialization 5,000/- (per Remote Site) ~1,50,000/- Total Cost: ~6,61,500/- GRAND TOTAL (per year) ~ Rs. 16,07,200/- (Annuxe-2 + Annexure-3) Page 8 of 8