Sustainability of telecentres- Feedback from grassroots NGOs

In a recently concluded capacity building workshop conducted by NASSCOM Foundation ( as a part of the NASSCOM Knowledge Network programme) for NGOs interested to start telecentres, participant’s views on sustainability of services reinstates what previous studies have indicated. Some of the prominent feedback were-

ICT Vs non-ICT services at the telecentre
Participant grassroots NGOs were of the view that non-ICT services hold equal potential value in the sustainability of telecentres as ICT or ICT-enabled services. This view, amongst several shared during the workshop brought to light the challenges of developing and rolling out relevant and robust services that can help the telecentre move towards sustainability. Also, this indicated that organizations are more comfortable running a telecentre in the model of a resource centre or a learning centre for the community with ICT infrastructure that can be leveraged for specific services and trainings.

Government services and competitive programmes
Viewed from the perspective of those who run telecentres in small towns and villages, the government-private partnership supported ‘common service centres’ ( or the CSCs a part of the national egovernance programme) that are mandated to provide government to citizen services are a direct competition to their centers, which may effect their centers adversely. Also, many participants were of the opinion that in many locations where the CSCs are not present, these telecenters should be permitted to roll-out e-governance services (atleast the ones that does not require complicated backend support or strict guidelines).

Knowledge centre activities are best supported by an NGO
A number of participants also thought that a telecentre is best supported and sustained if it is integrated in the overall activities of the NGOs or the voluntary group with shared resources and infrastructure. This also allows the NGO or the the voluntary group to cross-subsidise services and spread the risks. In a way, the participants suggested, such telecentre would then assume the true role of a 'community resource centre', which in the longer run is a viable model for sustainability.

Internet connectivity is not viable at every location, develop non-internet based services at telecentres
Can a non-internet/connectivity based centre be a true 'telecentre'? Participants felt that essentially a telecentre is a knowledge centre, which cater the information and knowledge needs of a community. Offline, pre-downloaded information and supporting knowledge can serve the same purpose...