CGnet Swara is a verbal news platform – a mobile-phone service that allows people to upload and listen to reports in their ownlanguages, providing a communication outlet for media dark zones that usually do not find space in mainstream media. Reported stories are moderated by journalists and become available for playback online as well as over the phone. Villagers drop a missed call on CGNet’s server, which then calls them back, and records their reports.By appointing a moderator/trainer for Bhil tribals, we aim to replicate the success achieved with ‘Gond’ and ‘Baiga’ tribals in Central India
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Bhopal
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
Since the inception of CGnet Swara in 2010, many thousand tribals have been using this platform and those outside its purview have felt acute need to have access to this mode of communication, hence this work is proposed here. Tribals are underrepresented online as they can’t read or write. We want to work with these Oral communities to provide voices to these ‘voiceless people.’ The target population (Bhil, over 10 million), by and large lack computer or internet familiarity, like other tribals, yet the semi-educated youth have been trained in the course of our work to moderate. Many of then now own a mobile phone.
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
We will take help from a team of youth apart chosen from social activist organisations already working with the Bhil tribal community in this project, as in the case of other tribal community, like Gond and Baiga tribals. We will take help from educated and online volunteers from Bhili community on Social media to take forward the issues raised by Rural activists from the same Bhili community. We will also take help from experts of the language.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
The work involves inviting content from the community members – primarily focusing the dysfunctional state organs, like failure of delivery services, poor law and order issues etc leading to plights in their life. These are aired to appropriate official forum aimed towards resolving their grievances. Other facets of content involve sharing of stories, songs, cultural activities, festival programs, sharing of success and other experiences.It will be a platform for the Bhili Tribals, of the Bhili Tribals, by the Bhili tribals.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established or plan to establish that will contribute to the success of the project.
CGNet Swara was the natural progression of CGnet, an online discussion forum to discuss development issues of tribal community since last decade. As a result, strong informal partnerships have been built with the tribal communities all over the country. It is testified by the large number of calls received on a daily basis.Details of which are available on the website of CGNet Swara (www.cgnetswara.org) and Adivasi Swara (www.adivasiswara.org). You can also see the list of Impacts created by this method: http://cgnetswara.org/impact2.php
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
About 100 plus participants will be trained in one year. Since it is meant for them, to air their views on the localized issues and ground realities, their sustained participation will be ensured. Further, the fact that it is the only mode available to them, too will help in seeking their continued participation.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
We in CGnet bring the rich experience of more than a decade of working with the marginalized communities like tribals and strengthening them through communication tools – mobile, radio and internet. CGNet Swara training module employs trainers to use song, dance, puppetry and traditional forms of storytelling to train the tribals. They are also taught to attribute and check and verify facts. This voice technology is the most appropriate for this community as there is none other available to these Oral communities who feel handicapped in reading and writing and feels empowered while talking.
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
We have a hall (capacity 10-15 persons), more than a dozen lap tops, high speed internet connections, servers, mobile phones, a pool of moderators and master trainers (both as human resource) at Bhopal and also in other parts of the country. Minimum facilities are required for trainings held in the field.
What is your current relationship with the community with whom you plan to work? What makes you the most appropriate individual or organization to implement this project?
During last one decade of working association, a very strong bonding has rooted with the tribal community, which is corroborated by the number of calls and successful resolution of many issues raised by them. CGNet Swara is the first organization using mobile phones in addressing their issues so it is the most appropriate organization to implement this project. We have a right mixture of Journalism, technology and Social activists in our team.
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
Accustoming the tribals to technology is a very difficult task, and we have evolved a module to overcome it. There are no security concerns (like Maoist-affected insurgency) in areas inhibited by Bhil.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
The impact can be evaluated by increase in the calls from areas inhibited by Bhil tribals, the increase in the resolution of their problematic issues, the number of citizen journalists developed during the project tenure, number of persons acquiring skill of using computer and internet, etc.
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
Appointing a moderator/trainer for Bhil tribals – I month
Identification of potential master trainers – I month
Training of master trainers – II month
Field Visit for scouting citizen journalists – II-III month
Series of trainings in different districts IV-XII months
Workshops in VI and X months
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
The total amount requested is $ 2,500
Planned break-up under different heads
Remuneration for moderator (partial) $700
Cost of workshop (partial) $500
Cost of training (partial) $500
Expenses on travel (partial) $400
Payment of internet bill (partial) $400
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
Besides monetary support we are also looking for your support to connect us with various organizations from all over the world who you support and who you are participating in similar activists. As we are completely dependent on grant at the moment we will need your help to scout more grant facilities. We will also need your help to turn CGnet Swara to sustainable model with its own resource generation in the years to come.
Contact name
Shu Choudhary
Organization
Environics Trust
