Gram Vaani

Gram Vaani Community Media Private Limited works with the aim of creating solutions for collection and dissemination of information using simplified t Read moreechnology and contextual tools. The focus is on developing participatory media networks and forums to ensure equitable access to information for all segments of the community. The vision is to reverse the flow of information from a top to bottom approach to a bottom to top approach. It operates through two primary product verticals namely the Mobile Vaani Network and Information and Community Technology (ICT) based solution vAutomate. The Mobile Vaani Network is its initiative to build a social media network for rural areas which acts as an integrated platform to stimulate community discussions on various topics and enable information sharing in general. The network functions through an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system which allows users to record messages and listen to messages left by others. The network is presently active in 20 districts in Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh and functions through more than 30 community radio stations in Uttakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Orissa; facilitating discussions on culture, local news, development messages, employment alerts, entrepreneurial activities and government schemes. The strong analytical features of the network also facilitate measurable data collection and campaigning activities. vAutomate is its ICT based solution to create automated voice based helplines to change the flow of information from rural and marginalized communities. Its implementation model for the vAutomate toolkit includes the Tech Support model where it provides technology and the partner deploys it, the Consult model where the ideation on technology usage takes place jointly and the partner manages deployment of technology and the Joint Program model where it executes the entire ICT project from formulation till execution. The vAutomate toolkit consists of vHelp, vConnect, vSurvey, vAct, vInform and vTrain modules. The modules can be used independently and also in integration with the Mobile Vaani Network. vHelp is a basic voicemail system which allows incoming calls and recording of outbound messages delivered through an online interface. vConnect functions as a discussion board and allows callers to listen to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), record answers to these questions and also comment on earlier answers left by other users. vSurvey allows collection of qualitative and quantitative data over regular phones through the use of voice and keypad prompts. The vAct module allows recording and redressal of user grievances. vInform allows dissemination of information through voice and text based messaging. vTrain provides a voice based training solution for training a large number of agents through multiple voice based modules. It also offers a community radio integration service named Gramin Radio Inter-Networking System (GRINS) which is embedded with features such as program scheduling and play-out, full telephony, SMS integration, internet streaming, content management and statistical analysis of play-out history, enabling seamless administration of community radio stations. The GRINS system has an active user base of 2.5 million in 6 countries and has been successfully used in live broadcast of Rural Employment Guarantee scheme under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and Panchayat meetings. For its efforts, it has won the Knight News Challenge in 2008, Juror's Distinction in Manthan Awards in 2009, a grant in the Economic Times Power of Ideas competition in 2010, the Rising Stars in Global Health award in 2012 and the mBillionth South Asia Award in 2012 and 2013. It has partnered with more than 80 social organization and enabled a community of over 2 million users in India, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Namibia and South Africa to collect and share varied information with an impact on social and administrative functions. After a merger with Onmobile Life Impacting Services Unit, Gram Vaani is now functioning as OnionDev Technologies Private Limited.