Chip Set

“I look at myself as a Information Communication Technology (ICT) activist who aims to use IT as a tool to empower the rural population. One of the main issues that plague and stall the development of rural areas is the lack of information. And since the mobile revolution has hit even the villages I figured this would be a much more easier method to help villagers by communicating with them via SMS’es,” says Ghate who has no qualms in accepting that he is just a 12th standard graduate,and has failed in his second year of Diploma studies.

And what exactly does SMSONE,as an organisation do? “For starters we have a community newsletter that is given out to micro communities or areas with 1000 families,about the various development schemes and policies and how they can avail of the same,” says Ghate,adding,“For that end we recruit an unemployed youngster who goes to each family in his village collects one mobile number so that we can send them the news regularly. In return the unemployed youngsters also get advertisements through various institutions in and around the area,which enables him to become self sustainable and earn a livelihood.”

And it is no wonder that the concept has caught the fancy of even the Stanford University,which through its organisation XRI Global in association with Seeds of Empowerment,and SMSONE,had recently held a story telling competition for the rural children of 13 communities across the state,which saw a total 1620 entries come in during its pilot run. “This is what we wish to do using SMS’es,” Ghate says,adding,“Even though we sent out 17000 SMS’es to families in these 13 communities,we could garner only close to 10 per cent of entries,which for others might be miniscule,but for us is hugely encouraging. We don’t expect changes to happen overnight,but we do like to believe that our work will one day be able to reach out to everyone.”

Ghate plans to replicate the model of the SMSONE concept in the southern states of Tamil Nadu,Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka and Kerela. “Infact work in these states has already begun in full swing. And despite the numerous political and other obstacles we have succeeded in setting up the community newsletters in these states too,” Ghate says. However he does maintain that it is very difficult to find unemployed youths to work for these causes. “We spend almost 3000 rupees in Maharashtra on finding one unemployed youth willing to work for his community,and the amount increases to Rs. 10000 in a state like Tamil Nadu,” he says.

On the anvil are other projects for the development of villages too. Right from the concept of the M-Village wherein villages would be intra-connected with various developmental authorities,and inter-connected with other villages,to helping children from the rural areas break their shackles of language and poverty and walk shoulder to shoulder with their urban counterparts,the plans are many. “It is a tall work order,that keeps on piling up,but we are optimistic,and determined to bring about a change,” he says,with a steely resolution