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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dear Vineeta and Shahid,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>This is very important question and I
fully support Vineeta’s 5 major challenges. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>On top of what was suggested, I would like
to add human resource development and capacity building. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>And I’m also happy to share my ideas on
this:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>There are two types of HRD and capacity building:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>1. Technical. This is for people to
provide necessary technical support for utilization of the IT equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>2. Societal. This is for people who will
be using telecenters, with focus on using computers, Internet, it’s services
(e-mail, VoIP, etc) as well as with focus on benefiting from using this
services.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Another point: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I would like to bring in issue of the
software development. It could be included in the content, but can be looked up
as a separate challenge for development of the telecenters. Software development
is not about using proprietary software, but also about using software
developed locally, with which the people could be enhanced with new skills and
knowledge. This could a software for ICT in education, ICT in agriculture,
e-learning packages,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>With best regards<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>L. Ariunaa,</span></font><font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>CEO,</span></font><font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Intec Co. Ltd,</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>"Your problems - our solutions",</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Suite</span></font></st1:Street><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> 326</span></font></st1:address><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>, National IT park building,</span></font><font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Baga toiruu - 49, Sukhbaatar district,</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Ulaanbaatar</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> - 46, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mongolia</st1:place></st1:country-region>,</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Phone/Fax: 976-11-328570</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Email: <a
href="mailto:ariunaa@itconsulting.mn">ariunaa@itconsulting.mn</a></span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Web: <a href="http://www.itconsulting.mn">www.itconsulting.mn</a>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
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<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
telecentres-bounces@wsis-cs.org [mailto:telecentres-bounces@wsis-cs.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>vineeta dixit<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, May 01, 2006 2:20 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> telecentres@wsis-cs.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Telecentres] Re:
telecentres Digest, Vol 20, Issue 6</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Dear Shahid,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Your initiative to invite debate of the various issues related to
telecentres is indeed timely and welcome. I believe that most of the
issues faced by the telecentre projects are socio-political in nature. While
technology does play an important role and is becoming increasingly pervasive,
it perhaps is in today's context the least issue. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>From my perspective the following five are key chanllenges in the
implementation and sustianability of telecentre projects:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>1. Community mobilisation for ownership: Most telecentre projects are
conceived and implemented from outside of communities that they are meant to
serve. Even in cases where the input is taken, it is more about taking
consent rather than understanding the requirement of community. In any case, it
is only in rare cases that the promoters of the telecentres conclude
that telecentre may not be a priority for the community at that given moment.
In such a scenario, it becomes critical that community needs to be
mobilised ( e.g. Akshaya Project and MSSRF projects in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>) and
their needs understood before a telecentre is made available for the
community. So long as the telecentre is viewed as an outsider's project -
be it Government, CSO or private sector initiated - its viability will be
limited. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>2. Political committment: Since most of the telecentre projects are
meant to connect the isolated communities to the wider knowledge
world, enhance democratisation and open more avenues for opportunity,
it may not receive the desired support, also, telecentres in many
countries are also a source for delivering critical government information and
services and finally, monies for such projects is often controlled by
large donor agencies and governments that fund these agnecies. As has been
demonstrated amply in the last 50 years of AID industry, political committment
to cause is fickle at best and based on political expediency. As such,
political committment to such projects becomes essential to ensure its
success. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>3. Long term financial committment: Owing to increased focussed on
commercialisation of social initiatives which get reflected
in demands related to sustainability and returns on investment, most
agencies/organisations are unwilling to commit or avail long-term funding for
telecentre projects. Very few are willing to face the fact that telecentres are
meant to serve hetherto under serviced communities who have faced decades if
not centuries of oppresion and isolation. How do we expect them to get
mobilised, become committed and ready to exploit the opportunities presented by
the project within a span of few years. we also need to understand that unlike
every business initiative that must make profit, we cannot demand that every
social initiave needs to make profit and must provide adequate returns on
investment. As a society we have certain social obligations that must be
fulfilled irrespective of whether they are profitable or not. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>4. Appropriate content: Although content now is being given some
attention, it is perhaps an equally important if not the most important factor
determining the success of the telecentres. Initial content though may be
created by promoters of the project, but subsequent updates, and new content
must be created from the benefeciaries of the project (with the help of the
promoters if required) for they know best about what they need. Also, it cannot
be emphasied enough that the content is created in the local language. While
this issue may seem simplistic, it is perhaps one of the most important
challenges being faced. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>5. Appropriate technology solution: There are many technological
challenges and most of them are widely known and discussed. Among them last
mile connectivity, appropriate standards for interoperability of software and
hardware, life span, cost, upgradability of technology and finally
technology related to content creation especially in languages that do not work
very well with ASCII are being addressed at different levels. I believe that
what we do need to do is encourage technology that can be easily adapted across
the world. Thus open source and UNICODE movement must be supported by the
initiators and promoters of the telecentre projects. <br>
<br>
I look forward to receiving comments from all the ideas presented here.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Regards,<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;
margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
Message: 2<br>
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2006 03:56:03 -0700 (PDT)<br>
From: Shahid Uddin Akbar <<a href="mailto:shahid_ictdpb@yahoo.com">
shahid_ictdpb@yahoo.com</a>><br>
Subject: [Telecentres] Challenges in implementation of telecenters<br>
To: <a href="mailto:bytesforall_readers@yahoogroups.com">bytesforall_readers@yahoogroups.com</a>,
Telecenter<br>
< <a
href="mailto:telecentres@wsis-cs.org">telecentres@wsis-cs.org</a>>, Telecenter
<<a href="mailto:gta@vancouvercommunity.net">gta@vancouvercommunity.net</a>><br>
Message-ID: <<a
href="mailto:20060430105603.22818.qmail@web53810.mail.yahoo.com">
20060430105603.22818.qmail@web53810.mail.yahoo.com</a>><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"<br>
<br>
Dear All,<br>
<br>
The telecenter is becoming an important development agenda in this days. J<br>
<br>
ust for sharing our thoughts, I would request you to forward 5 major challenges
which are critical for implementation of telecenter.<br>
<br>
Lets see whether we can identify the problems and then move to solutions.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
Shahid Uddin Akbar<br>
<br>
<br>
---------------------------------<br>
Blab-away for as little as 1</span></font><font face="Arial Unicode MS"><span
style='font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"'>�</span></font>/min. Make PC-to-Phone
Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.<br>
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End of telecentres Digest, Vol 20, Issue 6<br>
******************************************<o:p></o:p></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<br clear=all>
<br>
-- <br>
Vineeta Dixit<br>
Senior Consultant<br>
National e Governnance Plan<br>
Programme Management Unit<br>
Department of Information Technology<br>
Electronics Niketan, <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Lodhi Road</st1:address></st1:Street><br>
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Delhi</st1:place></st1:City>
110003<br>
Tel: +91 11 24301460 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>--<br>
Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.<br>
Checked by AVG Free Edition.<br>
Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.4/319 - Release Date: 4/19/2006</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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