Microsoft to tutor the fairer sex

NEW DELHI: Microsoft has unveiled 'Unlimited Potential' - a program aimed at empowering women through the use of technology in rural India. According to the company, the program is geared to create socio-economic opportunities for women by delivering focused ICT skills training and tools through Microsoft Community Technology and Learning Centers (CTLC).

"We are making a worldwide investment of more than $1 billion in cash and software over the next five years to aid technical skills training and lifelong learning for communities around the world. This is a part of that process," informed Microsoft India chairman, Ravi Venkatesan.






In the first phase of the program rollout in India, Microsoft is partnering with two non-profit organizations - World Links and Development Alternatives. As part of the partnership, the company is making a cash grant of around Rs 1 crore to World Links India for a one year program implementation in Delhi and MP and Rs 28 lakh to Development Alternatives for covering regions like UP, Punjab and some parts of MP.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dixit said that digital divide is a national issue and it should be addressed appropriately in order to increase IT usage. "The fruits of IT should reach all of us and programs like this can play a vital role in helping us achieve our goal," she added.

Elaborating on the program, World Link regional coordinator, Ashish Garg said that the core focus of the program will be to deliver ICT learning skills and capacity building of women drawn from the Anganwadi and the self help group (SHG) networks and community members surrounding the CTLC.

"The capacity building and skills training will be provided through 32 master trainers in 16 CTLC's in the selected districts in the states of MP and slums in Delhi region," he added.