“Digital India is our dream for the Nation. When I say ‘digital India’ it is not meant for the rich, but for those who are poor.” Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Digital India” is one where at least one person in each household in India is digitally literate by 2020. What exactly is digital literacy? It is the capacity to find and understand information using digital technology. In this age dominated by fast moving advancements in technology, developing that capacity to understand and communicate with technology is essential for creating responsible and empowered digital citizens and communities. We may think that everyone on the planet has technology at their fingertips, but millions are still left in the dark. In an effort to reach across urban and rural areas, the nation-wide initiative National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) tackles digital literacy through awareness campaigns, education and training programs. The NASSCOM Foundation currently serves as the industry’s Secretariat for the National Digital Literacy Mission. The multi-stakeholder effort between the Indian government, companies, and non-profits empowers communities and also creates opportunities for collaboration.
Symantec recently partnered with NASSCOM to expand the Symantec Cyber Career Connection (SC3) program to India! Check out the story.
NDLM Center Opens in Pune
One such collaborative success was the recently inaugurated NDLM center in Pune, India. On October 6th, IDEA Foundation in collaboration with Symantec, celebrated the opening of the new center. IDEA works with underprivileged youth and women from slums and schools in the Pune region and this new training center will increase the educational capabilities of the NGO and increase opportunities to those they serve. The center is already actively training 35 students in computer literacy! Symantec contributed computers, software, and grant money to help with the set up and operational costs of the new NDLM center! In honor of Symantec’s donations, IDEA invited Symantec’s Swapnil Bhoskar, Sr. Staff HR Business Partner, as the Chief Guest!
Computer Donations across India
Symantec’s hardware donations have benefitted several long-standing NGO partners in India. Since July of this year, Symantec has refurbished and donated 80 computers plus docking stations and chargers. Product donations – hardware and software – are Symantec’s largest mechanism of support to the non-profit community and has allowed us to help over 25,000 organizations globally each year. In India, the refurbished computers found a new home in three non-profits:
- IDEA Foundation: The Foundation’s mission is to make education more accessible and widespread for underprivileged children. The new NDLM center in Pune is one of their many projects aiming to increase educational equity.
- SEWA International: Promoting volunteerism is at the core of SEWA. Their mission is to serve humanity in distress and aid local communities within the intention of encouraging volunteerism.
- Great Foundation: The Great Foundation seeks to help underprivileged children by provding quality education, material support, training, and development.
Symantec has been collaborating with these organizations for community advancement and the computer donations is one more way to provide support for the important work that each of these organizations do within their communities.
For more information on Symantec's Community Relations program in India, please reach out to Swapnil_Bhoskar@Symantec.com.