Society for Action Research in Accelerated Livelihood Services (Saral Services)

The Society for Action Research in Accelerated Livelihood Services (Saral Services) was established as a Registered Society on 25th January 2005, with Read more the primary aim of addressing the issue of the digital divide. The society recognizes various divides within the community, and one prominent divide is the digital gap. There exist individuals with exposure to the digital world, considered digitally rich, who can harness the power of information and communication technology (ICT). This creates a widening gap between the digitally rich and digitally poor groups. Public and private initiatives have been implemented to introduce information technology infrastructure in digitally poor areas and reduce this divide. The government has launched broadband services and is establishing an extensive network of kiosks in rural areas. However, it is essential to acknowledge that merely establishing infrastructure is insufficient to bridge the gap. Concurrent efforts are necessary to enhance the capacity of individuals to utilize this IT infrastructure effectively. The organization aspires to empower rural and social agencies engaged in poverty alleviation by leveraging the potential of ICT to narrow the digital gap. The organization endeavours not only to advocate for societal investments in ICT infrastructure within digitally underserved regions but also to elevate the effective utilization of such infrastructure. Saral Services has outlined plans to engage in various services, including microfinance, livelihood support, health initiatives, education, and training in rural areas. Capacity building for individuals and institutions is an increasingly significant concern, particularly in addressing the digital divide. The neglect of aspects related to the digital divide has exacerbated economic disparities. Conventional institutions focused on human resource development tend to concentrate on general and subject-specific areas in depth. The impact of the digital divide became more evident during the global travel restrictions imposed due to COVID-19. Individuals with knowledge of digital tools were able to maintain a relatively normal life during this period, while a considerable number of people lacking digital skills were adversely affected. The founders of the organization decided to work with socially disadvantaged individuals and the institutions supporting them to enhance their capacity for digital literacy. Mission: The mission is to offer a range of services that facilitate the support and enhancement of livelihoods and the quality of life for disadvantaged individuals and communities. This involves leveraging the capabilities of information and communication technology (ICT) for small to medium-sized enterprises and institutions. Objectives: The objectives include building the capacity of individuals engaged in rural cooperatives, rural women's self-help groups, non-governmental organizations, etc., particularly those working in the fields of education, health, or microfinance. This involves fostering the adoption of IT skills and applications. Additionally, the organization aims to conduct action research on the application of ICT in rural and social sectors. This research focuses on leveraging the power of ICT to benefit disadvantaged individuals and communities. Concepts: The organization aims to serve three distinct segments working towards enhancing the lives of rural populations. The first segment considered comprises Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): India has around 100,000 not-for-profit organizations with a staff size greater than ten, and approximately 25,000 are actively engaged in community and social work. However, there is a lack of statistics on the number of NGOs leveraging the power of ICT to enhance efficiency. Even those using ICT applications often limit their usage to accounting software or communication tools. The second segment considered is Self-Help Groups (SHG): India hosts 3.37 million SHGs promoted by over 3000 NGOs and the government, with these groups reaching 40.95 million poor households. While SHGs have gained popularity, their performance is not always satisfactory, with only 16% considered good. Strengthening these SHGs is crucial, given their significance as a channel to reach the poor. The third important segment is Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS): India has approximately 100,000 cooperatives serving farmers and milk producers. The quality of these PACS has declined due to transparency issues and mismanagement. Strengthening these cooperatives is essential for effective service delivery in finance and livelihood. Digital awareness within these segments of NGOs, SHGs, and cooperatives is still in its early stages. There is a need to focus on leveraging the power of ICT to prevent the widening of the digital divide and improve efficiency. The demand for leveraging ICT in these segments exists, but various factors, such as low awareness, dependence on external funding, and ideological reservations, hinder adoption. Poor power supply and connectivity in rural areas also impede ICT promotion. The supply side of ICT is also lacking. Mainstream IT companies are occupied with servicing mainstream companies and government departments, neglecting the poorly served sector. To address these challenges, an agency is needed to increase ICT awareness, overcome ideological reservations, and demonstrate the benefits of ICT applications. The scope for capacity building is vast, with a focus on automating routine but complex systems and offering simple, efficient solutions. ICT has the potential to improve work culture, bring transparency to operations, reduce transaction costs, and enhance delivery services in finance, livelihood, education, and health. Additionally, demonstrating an affordable model for outsourcing business processes in rural contexts is crucial.