[Chapter-delegates] Another ISOC program in India that at least one Chapter did not know about.

Tue Nov 2 09:49:28 PDT 2010

Hello

I quote from my recent comments on the Draft Affiliation Agreement posted at
page

http://wiki.chapters.isoc.org/tiki-index.php?page=Draft%20Chapter%20Affiliation%20Agreement%20version%202

"Chapters are not consulted, nor notified so this weakens the role and
> position of Chapters...[This is true of] Isoc Global's agenda in the region
> / country where the Chapter is located. Isoc Global's activities in India
> during the last two years have repeatedly happened in a manner that the
> Chapters were completely excluded from the programs, events and other work
> that ISOC did in the country. Such practices cause a disconnect between
> Chapters and the local organizations in the region, the community in the
> region (regional NICs, regional network operator groups) and its own
> Governments. It is almost as if ISOC Global implies that Chapters are
> insignificant when it comes to important events and programs. It is as if
> Chapters are kept away from Policy and policy related meetings. (ISOC's
> policy positions are respected because it is considered as arising from the
> Internet Community, which is more represented by Chapters."

*
*
After a communication about an earlier issue at I Net Delhi, after the above
reference as an important communication, the Regional Bureau/ISOC global did
that again in India. Another major India Event, run by staff, without even a
notification to the Chapters. If other chapters have been consulted, Isoc
India Chennai did not know.

Not only the Chapter, but the Southern Indian region where the Chapter is
situated is left out in the choice of regions benefiting from the program.

Why do Staff persist on excluding Chapters?

What I have mentioned as comments on the Draft Affiliation Agreement becomes
all the more relevant:

"We need an expanded exercise. We need to initiate a broader task to Improve
> the Institutional Confidence in ISOC by reviewing the processes in place for
> Chapter Formation, Support, Review, Representation, Role, Influence or the
> absence of it, Organizational Membership Criteria, Contribution,
> Representation, Role of Organizational Members and their influence, Staff
> Appointment processes and control of staff appointment, reward and review
> functions, Revenues, Allocations, imbalances between various administrative
> departments, pattern of expenditure, Chapter and Individual Grants and
> considerations etc.

This expanded exercise is needed, not necessarily as a corrective exercise,
> but as an exercise to strengthen ISOC as an even more respectable
> organization of the Internet Community"

Sivasubramanian M
*
*
*
*
On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 8:59 PM, Anya Chambers <chambers at isoc.org> wrote:

> Dear all
>
> Please find below an announcement that was issued this morning in India
> relating to our involvement in the "Empowering Communities through
> Wireless Connectivity” initiative that is designed to get India’s rural
> communities connected.
>
> Anya
> Internet Society and Digital Empowerment Foundation launch initiative to
> bring the next billion online
>
> *DELHI, INDIA – November 01, 2010 –* The Internet Society, in partnership
> with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) today announced a joint
> initiative; “Empowering Communities through Wireless Connectivity” designed
> to get India’s rural communities connected. The programme includes wireless
> connectivity workshops and the deployment of wireless mesh networks in 4
> states.
>
> The aim of the programme is to reduce the digital divide in India by
> enabling Internet access in rural areas. In addition, it is designed to
> stimulate the creation content, product and services originating from rural
> areas. This will enhance linguistic and cultural diversity, help build the
> rural economy and bring the next billion online.
>
> Despite its 700 Million fixed and mobile phone subscribers, there is a
> significant difference between urban and rural areas in India. The Internet
> divide between the haves and the have-nots is even wider, to some extent
> because deploying a traditional communications infrastructure is often not
> economically viable for either service providers or subscribers. However,
> wireless technologies have much to offer in delivering cost-effective
> connectivity down to the last house in a village.
>
> “The Internet Society is built on the belief that access to the Internet
> drives innovation, opportunities for education and economic prosperity, “
> commented Jon McNerney, Internet Society Chief Operating Officer. “Through
> this initiative, even villages where houses do not have connecting roads can
> have access to the Internet. The Internet Society approach is to create a
> sustainable environment by simultaneously deploying infrastructure and
> training the communities to use it.”
>
> The initiative will deploy five wireless mesh based community networks in
> rural locations across India, starting with Chanderi (Madhya Pradesh),
> followed by Tura in Garo Hills (Meghalaya), Tilonia in Ajmer (Rajasthan),
> Kolhapur (Maharashtra) and Tehri (Uttarakhand) over the next twelve months.
> Wireless Mesh Networks are well suited for this environment as each node in
> the network is configured to connect with other nearby nodes in a mesh
> arrangement. This allows a higher up-time for the network as network traffic
> is routed automatically around non functioning nodes. This arrangement also
> allows the networks to achieve extended reach.
>
> Communities are empowered by means of a structured “Train the Trainer”
> programme that equips participants with the information they need to design,
> deploy and operate wireless networks, and to train community members in
> their deployment and operation.
>
> “Internet connectivity is a basic need of the citizens of India,” added Mr.
> Jyotiraditya Scindia, Member of Parliament, Guna, Madhya Pradesh and
> Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce and Industry for India when he was
> informed of the developmental initiative. “The establishment of a wireless
> Internet infrastructure in Chanderi is a great step forwards and I am happy
> to extend all support for its sustainability as member of Parliament of the
> area.”
>
> The Internet Society is an international organisation dedicated to ensuring
> the open development, evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of
> people throughout the world. DEF works in the domain of ICT and Digital
> Content enablement at the grassroots level. DEF and the Internet Society, in
> association with NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India), are also
> working at the Panchayat level in India to bring digital inclusion to the
> last mile governance level where citizens are directly linked with the
> government.
>
>
> Anya Chambers
> *Internet Society*
>
> mobile: +1 224 321 0378
> web: www.InternetSociety.org <http://www.internetsociety.org/>
> twitter: InternetSociety
>
>
>
>
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>
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