ICTpost Media Action
Mumbai:
CSCs are playing a major role in ensuring inclusive growth of our nation. I want to see the VLEs emerge as CSC VLE Society to set up an effective service delivery structure based on the pattern of Amul Cooperative.?
-Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Electronics and IT, Government of India
The formation of District VLE Society has risen from Hon? Minister for Electronics & IT and Law & Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad’s vision which he put forth in one of the CSC workshops. With more than 300 services being delivered through the CSC network, the district level societies train, support and handhold the VLEs. Jalna VLE Society is situated in central Maharashtra and covers 800 Gram Panchayats of 8 blocks.
In Maharashtra, Wi-Fi Choupal has shown that when the poor and marginalized people face challenges, VLEs can come to the rescue. Jalna VLE Society is implementing BharatNet project at 800 GPs of 8 blocks in Maharashtra. Most of the villages are remote and hilly. The VLE Society has constituted 8 teams to implement BharatNet project in 8 blocks. These 8 blocks are: Ambad, Badnapur, Bhokardan, Jafrabad, Mantha, Jalna, Partur, Ghansavangi. There are 4 VLEs in each team. Till date, the implementation work has been completed in 80 GPs.
Scary moments are a reality for every entrepreneur. The VLEs involved in the project are working day and night in the implementation of BharatNet project in these rural and inaccessible areas. VLEs say, For us, we didn’t see our scary moment coming. But, we are glad it happened because our DNA has been forever changed as a result of CSC SPV’s vision. The VLEs have left no stone unturned in repairing of FOCs.
Last mile connectivity was a major challenge in these rural and inaccessible areas of the state. With the efforts of Jalna VLE Society, an uninterrupted high speed and stable broadband connectivity is playing the most significant role for enabling delivery of voluminous eServices in a timely manner through CSCs and thereby making them sustainable. Ganesh Patil, President- Jalna VLE Society says: The digital inclusion will enable more families to truly enter the 21st century.?
The project is facilitating a Service Delivery ecosystem which can be used to deliver the following services:
Hi Speed Internet Access across village
Free Wi-Fi calling solution
Video Calling between local Smartphones possible without using telecom billing
Streaming of Audio/Video Content (entertainment, edutainment and infotainment) over Smart phones and Tablets
Mobile Commerce
Few months back, this VLE Society also distributed 200 tons Urea to the farmers. The Society runs Online Kisan Sabha-an awareness program for farmers in 800 villages. The Society has completed 10 lakh enrolments under PMFBY in 2018. ?1500 farmers in Jalna got free soil health cards, with the help of Jalna VLE Society. The Society has also started Plastic Free Village campaign in Jalna.
The VLE Society also provides the desired support in:
-Keeping track of various developments and inform VLEs when new services are launched;
-Improving the income of VLEs through periodical workshops on entrepreneurial and managerial skills;
-Building capacity of new VLEs by providing training on various CSC services;
-Provide VLEs interface with service providers, Central/State Government/district authorities, and other stakeholders;
-Providing local help desk support for VLEs;
-Enabling Central/State Government/ district authorities to implement various government initiatives in rural India. editor@ictpost.com
