Sanchar Shakti

“Sanchar Shakti” is a programme of pilot projects aimed at facilitating women Self Help Group (SHG) members with the access to ICT enabled services and their contribution towards ICT enabling services.

The projects under the scheme comprises: a) provisioning of subsidized mobile Value Added Services (mVAS) subscriptions to SHG members which are valid for at least a year, b) setting up of SHG members run mobile repair centers in rural areas, c) setting up of SHG run modem repair centers in rural areas, and, d) setting up of SHG run solar-based mobile phone or fixed wireless terminal (phones) charging centres in rural areas. 

A total of 15,050 women members of different SHGs were targeted under the scheme and were to be covered under the mobile VAS projects. The projects identified and implemented under the programme will contribute to women empowerment through connectivity, information, skills, increased revenue and employment opportunities for rural women through better access to information and markets and their participation in running local repair facilities or charging centres. 

Roll Out

'Sanchar Shakti' was rolled out on a Public-Private-People partnership model. Financial support was provided by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) through underlying subsidy agreements that subsidised the content development on mVAS, training or handholding and VAS information dissemination by the service provider. Four Agreements were signed between USOF and service providers in the service area of Pune (Maharashtra), Uttrakhand, Ajmer (Rajasthan) and Srikakulam, East Godavari and Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). 

The NGO partner of the service provider selected, educated and spread the awareness among the beneficiaries. M/s Bharti Hexacom Limited (BHL) in Rajasthan and M/s Reuters Market Light Information Services Private Limited were the service providers in the remaining pilot projects under Sanchar Shakti. The targeted beneficiaries were actively involved by the service providers in the developing the VAS package, customised and localised to their needs via assessing the needs or preference of the each individual.

Click here to view all Projects' Tender, Agreement & Amendment documents