DEFdialogue with Vrinda Vaid
We the People is a digital repository of narratives of Indians with all there faults, aspirations, dreams, and victories.
Research & Advocacy
DEF advocates for a robust data protection law The Research and Advocacy department of DEF has sent its response to the Srikrishna Committee call for a Data Protection Framework for India. DEF’s recommendations highlight the need for a robust data protection law to protect, especially, the most vulnerable sections of the society. The response sent…
Knowledge Hub & Network
DEFdialogue with Ulrike Reinhard In February, DEF hosted its fourth DEFdialogue with Ulrike Reinhard, a German publisher and author. She is best known for her skatepark in Janwaar Castle in Madhya Pradesh. Travelling to more than 100 countries, she has spoken to Nobel Laureates, nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize, high ranking politicians, internationally renowned thinkers, successful entrepreneurs, outstanding…
Markets & Social Enterprises
Warli art set to get a new lease of life In February; DEF conducted an awareness workshop for Warli artisans in Talasari block of Maharashtra to revive the beautiful Warli art. The session saw participation of 36 Warli artists, students and other stakeholders who discussed the challenges related to market availability, designing, raw material and…
Governance & Citizen Services
Supporting Digital India’s financial needs DigiSupport, a project initiated by DEF & Axis Bank to empower financially excluded communities to digitally access and consume financial services through digital interventions, has successfully reached out to more than 1,116 rural beneficiaries in 10 villages. An army of DigiPreraks (rural entrepreneurs) have diligently mobilised the communities they serve to create…
Education & Empowerment
Rekindling public libraries in Telangana Indian Public Library Movement and DEF organised the State Public Library Conference in Telganana in collaboration with the Government of Telangana and the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU). The aim was to bring together relevant stakeholders to exchange views in an effort to develop strategies to digitally transform public libraries into 21st century information,…
Access & Infrastructure
Creating a ‘sampoorna gaon’ In March, DEF and Nokia initiated project Smartpur in Nuh (Haryana) and Asoor (Tamil Nadu). It has been conceptualised in a manner that challenges and redefines the existing idea of smart villages, which is based more on the availability of digital infrastructure but not as much on the integration of the infrastructure into…
Rethinking Access and Reshaping Internet: DCS 2018
Committed to providing a multi-stakeholder platform to discuss issues relating to Internet governance, human rights online and the future of the Internet, the third Digital Citizen Summit (DCS) was organised on November 1-2, 2018, in New Delhi. India and other South Asian countries have made leapfrogs in the technology sector to adapt to digital lifestyles.…
What will it take to bring India’s children online
Limited infrastructure, inequitable access to digital resources, and poor utilisation of digital resources in the education sector cause the digital exclusion of children in India.
Trolling: The beast hitchhiking on our shoulders
Social media has seen a surge of sociality in recent times. When social platforms emerged – with a noble pursuit to make communicating as an act more accessible, democratic and personal – barely had anyone