NASSCOM FOUNDATION aims Social Development through Information & Communication Technologies

NASSCOM FOUNDATION

Social development through Information & Communication Technologies

Besides building state-of-the-art products, solutions and technologies, IT industry has slowly but steadily deployed their knowledge in Information & communication technologies (ICT) for the benefit of the less privileged. NASSCOM Foundation, the social development arm of NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) the internationally recognized trade body of the Indian IT industry has been at the forefront in leading the IT Industry towards changing the social development landscape of India. A catalyst for change, NASSCOM Foundation (NF)’s vision is to leverage information and communication technologies (ICT) to empower and transform the lives of the under-served. NF’s initiatives so far have impacted over 30,000 community members including youth, women, adult literacy, health awareness, IT skills development, micro-enterprises, life-skills and women empowerment.

Some of the initiatives of NASSCOM foundation in the social arena have been:

NASSCOM Knowledge Network: NF’s community-centric initiative is designed to engage industry, civil society and governments in synergistic interventions through partnership. Called the NASSCOM Knowledge Network (NKN), it is envisaged as an independent, disaggregated model with the contribution made by every partner (Resource, Implementation, Connectivity and NF) being vital to the Network. NF’s multifaceted program leverages on the power of partnerships and brings together donors, content providers and implementing agencies, thus enabling grassroot organizations to start successful ICT projects. This programme aims to set up Telecentres that are equipped with computers and have connectivity of some sort. It is aimed at creating an enabling environment for underserved communities by facilitating access to information and services. The programme has currently extended to a national grid of 140 knowledge centres across 12 states and 75 districts in India.

Building ICT Capacities @ the Grassroots (BiG): In the course of setting up the NASSCOM Knowledge Network, NF realized the need for an ongoing training programme to help knowledge centre coordinators understand the role of ICT in development, understand information needs of a community, identify relevant information and information sources, learn to disseminate relevant information in communities, and set-up and manage knowledge centres.

The Big Programme aims to build capacities of small and medium NGOs in India to use ICT as a part of their activities. The programme’s focus is on training and disseminating the knowledge gathered locally and through NF s multiple programmes across India. The BiG programme is at the core of the NKN. Therefore, NF has invested energies in building capacities of partner organizations by extensive training of personnel managing knowledge centres under the ‘Building ICT Capacities @ Grassroots’ (BiG) programme.

Under the BiG programme, with support from Intel, NF has completed three sustainability and entrepreneurship workshop with part NGO leaders and NKN telecentre managers.

BiG Tech: This programme enables technology companies to route part of their philanthropy and CSR initiatives by donating products and services to NGOs and charities in India with an aim to help NGOs conserve their ICT budget. BiG Tech program is delivered in India by NASSCOM Foundation in partnership with TechSoup. This program is made possible by donations from technology product manufacturers like Microsoft who wish to help the NGO sector.

I-Get Involved: The will to ‘get involved’ and the ‘willingness’ to contribute & give back to society are all there, both from the Individual perspective & also Corporate; but the path remains unclear. NF I-Get Involved Program focuses to define this path by encouraging contributions & involvement, initiating alliances & becoming a bridging catalyst encouraging members to do more, capturing best practices; & henceforth promoting and assisting the replication of both good works & CSR practices. The Program also seeks to harness a greater array of resources – intellectual and financial, from the industry and beyond – to make a major impact on the development of society & grassroot community. It thereby also sensitizes NASSCOM members companies & other corporate bodies to leverage their core competencies to reach out to the underserved through NF’s various I-Get Involved channels, viz. volunteering services, payroll giving programs, endowments, sabbaticals, donations etc.

At the moment NF has been involving corporates through providing multiple avenues to member companies, in terms of their CSR initiatives & aims.

Many of NASSCOM’ member companies have been engaged in CSR initiatives. NF intends to become a catalyst, encouraging members to do more, capturing best practices, and promoting and assisting their replication. In addition, NF aims to facilitate and strengthen the CSR space to a wider understanding of contribution to development and towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

NASSCOM Foundation is a trust registered under the Indian Trust Act 1882. It was registered in the year 2001. NF plays the role of a catalyst in bringing together implementing agencies, industry, government bodies and people at the grassroots for integrated development boosted with the use of Information and Communication Technologies. Headquartered in New Delhi, NF has another office in Mumbai. NF today through its various programmes impacts thousands of community members across the country and is operational in 12 states and 75 districts of India. NF already has partnerships with many companies like Microsoft, Cognizant, Intel and Azim Premji Foundation.

Regards,
Richa Gaur
PR Executive
Blue Lotus PR
richag {at} bluelotuspr(.)com
9990940503
011-46517242