Category: E-EDUCATION & LEARNING, Finalist 2011
SAHAJ E-SIKSHA
Original Title : Sahaj e-Siksha
Media Format : Computer & Kiosk based
Website :
www.sahajcorporate.com
Producer : SREI Sahaj e-Village Ltd.
Language : English, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Tamil and Assamese
Location : West Bengal, INDIA
Contact :
ravi.mandapaka@sahaj.co.in
DESCRIPTION

Sahaj e-Siksha container is a desktop based software application developed by Srei Sahaj e-Village Ltd. (Sahaj) exclusively by the Sahaj elearning team. In authentication the container authenticates the user with the help of the login credentials provided at the time of registration. Once logged in, the container gives a list of courses that the user as registered for. In the second major category of container i.e. content display, the container acts as a sequential and interactive player for the learning content. The content gets displayed chapter by chapter depending upon the teaching methodology and the intelligent logic embedded into it. The container auto-decrypts the encrypted content only to authentic users, ensuring data security. The container once completing the authentication of the user no more requires the internet connectivity to run the course. During this offline mode if the user proceeds to another chapter or takes up an examination, the container intelligently remembers the relevant data and updates the same to the Sahaj central server whenever it goes online again. When the user logs in the next time, he starts from where he finished last. In case there is constant connectivity, the data is stored directly into the Sahaj server.
EVALUATION
The Jury appreciated that this initiative already provided education to more than 2,500 people living below poverty line (BPL) and assured placements for them thus ensuring regular wage employment and bringing a specific number of BPL families above the poverty line. It was noted that service of this e-education product is being used by 8,000 Village Level rural Entrepreneurs (VLEs), who own and run the CSCs affiliated to Sahaj. The Jury also noted the intent of Srei Sahaj is to roll out this product gradually to over 20,000 VLEs.
ICT IN WOMEN CONCILIATION CENTER
Original Title : ICT in Women Conciliation Center: Strengthening e-Governance to Life Long Learning Project
Media Format : Internet
Website :
www.vidiyalngdo.org
Producer : VIDIYAL
Language : English & Tamil
Location : Tamil Nadu, INDIA
Contact :
Kamaraj_vidiyal@rediffmail.com
DESCRIPTION

The project, started by VIDIYAL, an NGO in the Theni District, Tamil Nadu, India, aims at strengthening the role of ICT in providing the legal, constitutional and human right awareness among women and enables them to interact with appropriate institutional mechanism.The objectives of this project are, promoting Self-Directed Learning in legal, constitutional and human rights among poor women using mobile phones, orienting the present Women Conciliation Centre with ICTs and enabling large scale interactions with less transaction cost. This would be done with the establishment of Village Knowledge Centres; helping the women members identifying their eligibility in various development programmes of state and central government using Indian Citizen Eligibility Identification System (ICLIS) and strengthening the horizontal transfer of knowledge in legal, constitutional and human rights through structured mobile phone conversations among women. The project partnered with Arul Anandar College, Karumathur, Madurai who helped to develop ICLIS software package. . The other partners in the project are Legal Aid Cell, Government of Tamil Nadu, Commonwealth of Learning (COL), M. S. Swaminathan research Foundation (MSSRF) and AIRTEL-IFFCO.
EVALUATION
The Jury observed that the project would help legal aid cells in various states as well as NALSA, to reorient their programme and contribute in developing an innovative approach in National Legal Literacy Mission. It was also noted that so far more than 4000 farmers and members of the women self help groups have accessed the ICLIS software through the village knowledge centre. The Jury also appreciated that the project reduces the time in searching the scheme and also obtaining the application form for the users. Besides, this project also helps them to know other schemes related to the physically handicapped, agriculture, education and other general schemes. The Jury opined that the blending of access to development programme through ICLIS, microfinance, micro enterprises and legal empowerment with institutional support such as Women Conciliation Centre would help to shift a paradigm in e-governance.
SOCIETY FOR CREATION OF OPPORTUNITY THROUGH PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH
Original Title : Society for Creation of Opportunity Through Proficiency in English (SCOPE)
Media Format : Computer & Kiosk based
Website :
www.scopegujarat.org
Producer : Society for Creation of Opportunity Through Proficiency in English (SCOPE)
Language : English
Location : Gujarat, INDIA
Contact :
Jointceo.scope@gmail.com
DESCRIPTION
Society for Creation of Opportunity through Proficiency of English (SCOPE) has been setup by the Government of Gujarat to build English language proficiency in the youth of Gujarat and thereby provide employment opportunities for the youth.The project runs into PPP model and has more than 450 training centres across state. SCOPE is conducting online exam of international standard (Cambridge University) at such a mass scale which is unique in the world. SCOPE team goes to every nook and corner of the state with laptops and internet dongles to conduct the exam in villages, schools, colleges and tribal belt. There is no eligibility criterion for age, gender, and qualification to appear in the examination conducted by SCOPE. Any member of public can appear in the test at a very nominal cost.
EVALUATION
The Jury noted that till now more than 200,000 candidates have been benefited from SCOPE programme. Also it was appreciated that the stated objective of the programme is to train 500,000 youth in business English in a period of four years. In the first year 100,000 learners would be trained, for which 1000 centres are to be set up across Gujarat. The Jury also noted that the SCOPE commendably conducted BULATS online Speaking test, online examination of Cambridge University, for more than 30,000 candidates.
SPARSH
Original Title : Sparsh
Media Format : Mobile based
Website :
http://ilfsets.com/
Producer : IL&FS Education and Technology Services Ltd
Language : English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali. Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Oriya, Tamil
Location : Maharashtra, INDIA
Contact :
ankur.rohatgi@ilfsets.com
DESCRIPTION
Sparsh, designed and developed by IL&FS Education and Technology services Ltd., provides a complete on the go learning solution that focuses on sexual and reproductive health for teens and adults that is divided into 12 modules. Each module of Sparsh has a FAQ section and a list of myths with facts related to that area. SMSs containing any module’s information can be sent to the users upon subscription. The services provided are transferable from one user to another i.e. the service can be purchased and “gifted” to someone else. The users will soon have the access to become the qualified counsellors to discuss complex problems. The service is available in 12 different languages.The service can be activated by dialling the dedicated short codes assigned on the particular network and following the IVR. The service can be activated on any mobile device.
EVALUATION
The Jury felt that providing Sex education on the mobile phone is very apt and convenient also, as all the lessons are pre-recorded and there is no live interaction with the teacher which might have made the students uncomfortable. It was noted that apparently Sparsh is the world’s first mobile based sex education course which is available in 12 different Indian languages. It was further noted that authenticity of the content was established by ensuring that the entire content be researched and vetted by the family planning committee of India. It was further noted that the content can be accessed in multi-modal way, SMS, IVR and OBD and also incorporated is a FAQ section.
UNNATI
Original Title : Unnati
Media Format : Computer based Multiple
Website :
www.unnatiblr.org
Producer : Sree Guruvayurappan Bhajan Samaj Trust
Language : English
Location : Karnataka, INDIA
Contact :
rameshswamy@unnatiblr.org
DESCRIPTION
Unnati, an initiative of SGBS Trust, was started in Oct 2003 in Karnataka, with the purpose of enabling underprivileged and unemployed youth to get employed. The program is aimed not only to enable people to become employable and get engaged in a gainful job, but also to transform them in to responsible citizens for the country. This is done through a vocational training and social transformation program for 70 days to help them to go above the poverty line forever. The Project focuses on enablement of rural youth to learn computers, to communicate using latest technologies, to get employed and help their families move above the poverty line. Unnati admits youth, school drop outs even one not having any formal education aged above 18 years from BPL families.
EVALUATION
The Jury appreciated that Unnati provides free vocational training and assured on-campus placements. Also it was noted that every enrolled young person is taught to speak in English and to use computers. It was observed that some individuals having gone through this programme have been able to earn up tp Rs 25,000 per month in 3-4 years time from a start of Rs 4,000 per month. The Jury also noted with appreciation that Unnati has impacted the lives of more than 1700 young individuals till date and the program trained them in their vocation, worked on their English communication skills, life skills, computer literacy and also helped them in inculcating personal and community values.