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Taking technology to rural areas

Photo: T. Singaravelou

General Manager of BSNL, Puducherry, Marshal Antony Leo, delivering the inaugural address at the Software and Technology Product Donation event in Puducherry. —

PUDUCHERRY: NASSCOM Foundation, the social wing of National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), has donated hardware and offered teleconferencing services to the Puducherry Multipurpose Social Service Society (PMSSS), to help technology reach rural areas at minimum cost.

This was announced at an event conducted at the office of PMSSS here on Friday.

The donation is part of the BiG Tech programme of the NASSCOM Foundation that assists non-profit organisations by offering access to software donation programs of donors such as Microsoft, Bytes of Learning and Eagle Conferencing. Big Tech is being offered in the country in partnership with TechSoup Global, a U.S.-based non-profit organisation.

The General Manager of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Puducherry, Marshal Antony Leo, said that non-governmental organisations play an important role in bridging the digital divide.

The NASSCOM Foundation helps by providing expensive infrastructure at low costs, he said.

The Deputy General Manager of BSNL Puducherry, Robert J. Ravi, said that in a country with over six lakh villages, development of rural areas was essential for the growth of economy. This development could be brought about by teledensity and penetration of technology, he said.

PMSSS was the first non-profit organisation in Puducherry that has registered for this technology donation program.

The organisation is already collaborating with the NASSCOM Foundation for the NASSCOM Knowledge Network Program, to conduct computer literacy programmes in villages, said Manasi More Sangekar, Manager of the BiG Tech programme.

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