DEF launches the .NGO domain in India

The 6th edition of the mBillionth Awards marked an important day for both the grassroots NGOs and the digital community.At a time when there is growing distrust of NGOs across the country, the need for a validated and verified identity has become all the more pertinent for non-profits.July 23, 2015, marked an exciting time in the history …

Government crackdown will purify NGOs

“NGOs in crisis” “13,000 in 2 months” “Crackdown on NGOs” If you have been reading newspapers in the last few months, you would have encountered some of these headlines. There is serious worry over the fate of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and what the government intends to do with them. My view is somewhat different: The…

Women and cybercafes in the hinterland

A survey conducted among 200 women in Bhadohi and Ferozabad, two small towns in Uttar Pradesh, revealed a picture of cybercafe use in the country’s hinterland. The survey, published in Public Access ICT Across Cultures, found a strong correlation between education, income and the use of Internet and communication technologies. It also found that the…

Mobile phones empower women

I want to share with you a couple of breathtaking stories of how mobile phones have made a difference in women’s lives The week before last, I was having one of those regular conversations with Sunil Jaglan, the sarpanch who has been more in the news than perhaps our prime minister, more recently for his…