Nokia and the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) announced the launch of KanchiLoom, a cluster development program to digitally empower the weaver community and connect them to technology and the marketplace in 3 villages within Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
The project primarily involves the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other digital tools in critical aspects of cluster development, thereby helping to ensure sustainable livelihood creation in the clusters. It will touch the lives of over 5,000 community members, including 500 weavers.
Kanchipuram is known for its traditional hand-woven silk sarees where weavers do not have access to modern designs and weaving techniques, and any direct access to the market. The ‘KanchiLoom’ initiative aims to develop the traditional skill-based weaver community in these 3 villages into an integrated digitally enabled cluster for socio-economic prosperity. It will enable weavers to embrace new technologies, designs, and scale-up traditional weaving methods by employing ICT tools and digital connectivity for marketing and sales. At the heart of the program is the Cluster Resource Center (CRC) – an integrated digital resource center – which will allow weavers to access advanced design software, combining the traditional designs with modern sensibilities to cater to new markets. An e-Commerce portal would be set up to open access to direct market, for these weavers reducing dependence upon middle-men, improving self-reliance and, eventually impacting livelihood positively.
CRC will also offer basic digital literacy, training in using advanced design software, wireless networking workshops and digital information services to the local population. It will serve as a cluster wireless network that will provide wireless broadband connectivity to schools, health centers and Anganwadi Kendra for overall development of the community.
Amit Marwah, head of Customer Marketing and Communications for Nokia India, said: “We strongly believe that digital inclusion is an important pillar for socio-economic growth. Our collaboration and support for social development programs focus on the use of technology to enable equal access to opportunities in education and training for all sections of society. The KanchiLoom project is one such endeavor to assist the weavers and entrepreneurs in the cluster to hone their skills and to use digital knowledge and connectivity to realize their full potential.”
Osama Manzar, Founder-Director, Digital Empowerment Foundation, said: “We are delighted to partner with Nokia for the overall growth of the weaver community in Kanchipuram. We believe that KanchiLoom program will truly transform the lives of the weavers by providing them with training and access to the internet and wireless connectivity. The entrepreneurs in the region will further benefit from the e-commerce portal and specific entrepreneurship training provided as part of the initiative. The program will help the community to learn about new opportunities and growth areas. We create the technology to connect the world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry’s most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing.
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Established in 2002, Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) aims to connect unreached and underserved communities of India in an effort to bring them out of digital darkness and equip them with access to information. With the belief to ‘Inform, Communicate and Empower,’ DEF finds sustainable digital interventions to overcome information poverty in rural and remote locations of India, and empower communities with digital literacy, digital tools and last mile youth connectivity.
