Digital Artisans of India Award 2023-24

India’s artisan community, numbering over 200 million, surpasses the population of all but six countries worldwide. This vast republic of artisans constitutes a pillar of India’s cultural and economic heritage, enriching traditions through diverse crafts and practices. The handloom industry, with 23.77 lakh looms and employing 3,522,512 workers, predominantly women, underscores its significance as the largest cottage industry. Valued at Rs 24,300 crores, Indian handicrafts contribute 14% to industrial production, 4% to GDP, and 13% to export earnings, with fabrics like ikat driving global appeal. Across 470 clusters in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, and West Bengal, these artisans weave intricate narratives into every piece. Read More

5th Digital Citizen Summit (DCS) 2023 – “Commoning the Internet for a Vibrant Democracy”

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), in partnership with Center for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad, Broadband India Forum (BIF) and Internet Society (ISOC) Hyderabad Chapter, organised the 5th Digital Citizens Summit (DCS) on 2nd, 3rd and 4th November 2023, at T-Hub, Hyderabad.

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Tackling Harms of Digital Tech on Environment and Climate in India: Balancing Digital Rights and Environmental Sustainability through Digital Circular Economy

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and the Council for Social and Digital Development (CSDD), organised a two-day Technical Workshop & Consultation on ‘Tackling Harms of Digital Tech on Environment and Climate’.

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7th Community Network Xchange (CNX) Asia Pacific 2023 – “Connecting Indigenous & Mountain Communities”

Community Network Xchange (CNX) entered its seventh year in 2023. Community Network Xchange Asia Pacific was first organized in 2017, with a focus on bringing together community network practitioners and enthusiasts of community-driven Internet connectivity to exchange ideas and serve as catalysts for the grassroots connectivity movement.

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Festival of Digital Swaraj at Heritage House, Mysore

The Festival of Digital Swaraj at Heritage House, Mysore, was a testament to the commitment towards achieving Digital Swaraj and fostering a digital revolution that leaves no one behind. It celebrated the synergy between traditional craftsmanship, digital innovation, and social impact, while also providing a platform for entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas for a better future.

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Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Shaping the Global Digital Compact

India-level Civil Society Consultation to contribute to the campaign of United Nation’s ‘Global Digital Compact’ with the presence of UN Secretary General’s Office of Envoy on Technology, Dr Amandeep Singh Gill- there will be about 100 civil society organizations and as many community practices from all over India.

On 27 October 2022, the President of the UN General Assembly appointed Rwanda and Sweden as Co-facilitators to lead the intergovernmental process on the Global Digital Compact.

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digitALL: Access to Right & Rights to Access

The Law for All Initiative at Ashoka successfully hosted the “digitALL: Access to Rights & Rights to Access” event on May 4, 2023, at the Bangalore International Center (BIC) in Domlur, Indiranagar. This event marked the celebration of 20 years of the Digital Empowerment Foundation’s (DEF) impactful work in bringing digital access and empowerment to marginalised communities in India.
The event began with an introduction by Aamir Ullah Khan, a renowned economist and a board member of DEF, who contextualised the digital divide and emphasised the need for digital intervention, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, where unequal access to healthcare and education became apparent.

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Festive Meet of Art and Collective for Digital Empowerment

On the 23rd of November, A-CODE organized the ‘Festive Meet of Art and Collective for Digital Empowerment’ to provide a space of art and culture to amplify the voices of marginalised communities and raise issues of human rights. The event gave all the A-CODE members a platform to talk about their work and how they are changing their respective societies. The day event was filled with activities to know each other well and find ways to collaborate in the future. Further, the way forward was discussed with the members to have better clarity in navigating A-CODE.

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