Perhaps one of the biggest successes in this project, so far, had been the setting up of SSKs at the village level. Placement of ICT equipment in SSKs and district offices had reduced the mystery and myth of hardware and software and brought ICT to the doorstep of the villager. This visual, tangible and operational seat of ICT had energized the woman member and made her believe that ICT was here to make an impact on their lives. She now believed that if not herself, at least the younger generation would utilize these tools in a regular fashion and get exposed to the world outside.
The exposure for harnessing suitable options for the youth to be gainfully employed in their own land was an outcome achieved by setting up SSK.
Another achievement had been providing training to semi-literate and illiterate women, some of whom had been marginalized farmers, salt workers, dairy farmers and artisans. They had never been to a school or even held a pen in their hand. Their enthusiasm in learning the Basic English alphabet which would enable them to decipher the main text and icons of the software was a motivating and progressive factor in this project.
An impressive number of SEWA members had been linked with or had received jobs through IT with salaries of upto Rs. 4500 per month. Some of the trained members of Anand and Mehsana districts were employed with local IT training institutes and other organizations as data entry operators. Members, who had already received a basic training course in IT, were trained on the software that was installed in the various districts offices. Members entered data into these software and earned an extra amount for doing so. For example, trained members of many districts now use computers to maintain their activity accounts (e.g. insurance, trade), correspond via e-mail and plan their activities. This had seen more women using their IT training in their trade.
However, SEWA's biggest achievement to date, undoubtedly, had been instilling a sense of personal empowerment among the beneficiaries. From women who were hardly recognized in their societies, they were now respected in their community for their ICT skills and creativity. The younger women feel they were able to approach the job market with greater confidence. There had also been an emergence of solidarity as the women learn computers together at the SSKs. They also often discuss their problems, creating a sense of unity among them and also
bringing forth their otherwise inert leadership qualities.
Women leaders in their communities utilize their newly acquired computing skills in their planning process. They develop micro-plans using the desktop software applications, with vivid images and graphics. It had also become easier to benchmark the progress in the plans and highlight variances and achievements. As a pilot in the path-breaking “Jeevika' project, women members in village development committees were trained in using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to plan digging of a well or pond, road network for the village. Latest GIS packages were quite user-friendly, easy to use (at the click of a mouse), so as 'a picture speaks a thousand words', these women were immediately able to identify optimal locations and plan more wisely for their village development activities.
The impact of ICT had been reflected in other technological applications as well. Women members had begun to use telephone as a means of communication more widely. They had realized the value of time and opportunity cost savings, in addition to the ease and convenience of use. Thus, spearhead team leaders like Puriben and Jomiben use the telephone (and sometimes even the fax to communicate across district offices) to fix up meetings of their group, logistics setting for travel and appointment seeking with government and other officials in different
locations. The introduction of the “Theliphone” scheme by SEWA Bank,whereby SEWA members could avail of a loan to procure a handset and access to cellular services, had heralded the era of mobile communication amongst the rural poor members of SEWA. They could respond to queries of fellow members, talk to their spearhead team leaders or organizers, thus ensuring continual communication and quicker on the- field solutions to problems.
Mobile phones were also used in micro enterprises by the women and even in agricultural-produce selling. Thus, sesame seed growers like Jasuben of Surendranagar district were using their mobile telephones to know the market prices of their produce in nearby market yards. They then made an informed decision and thus, were able to ensure maximum gains for their yield taking care of the bottom-line like a seasoned businesswoman. Similarly, salt workers in the saltpans and tobacco rollers used telephones and mobiles to get latest market information and decide their selling strategy on this basis.
In recognition of the work done by SEWA, rewards and recognition have been pouring. These awards have been awarded to individual members as well as SEWA movement as a whole. To state a few, 44 of SEWA members received awards of The National Virtual Academy (NVA) from the President of India. This recognition was given to SEWA members for their efforts in spreading ICT in their villages. As recognition, they were elected as fellows of NVA. These NVA fellows have been working towards building every village as a knowledge center. The mission had been towards building 100,000 knowledge centers and these fellows would facilitate the mission in fulfilling its target.
Japan Women in Development Fund has also supported and recognized this project. In 2006 during their general body meeting it was selected as the best program from among the 84 programmes in 37 countries. SEWA received an opportunity to present the project in JWDIFs Annual General Meeting in Tokyo.
Another award bagged by SEWA was The Economic Times-Nasscom IT Users Award. This award had been given each year to recognize excellence in IT usage across industry verticals. The awards had been an acknowledgement of the work by certain organizations that they have undertaken in deploying IT for gaining significant benefits. The IT User Award winners were companies who had implemented breakthrough IT technologies and attempted to remain at the cutting-edge ofthe ICT spectrum. In the newly created NGO category of the awards, SEWA
waschosen the best IT user for the year 2004. This award was bestowed to SEWA for the diligence and dedication exhibited by SEWA members in adapting technology and using it to better their lives and the activities they were involved in. As users of software systems they had used technology to communicate better, to pass on information in a timely fashion, for increased efficiency in their work and for capacity building through training programs. It also recognized the vision, which SEWA members had crafted for ICT and the detailed planning involved in executing plans.
