Here is an invitation from Osama Manzar, Founder & Director of Digital Empowerment Foundation and Chairman of The Manthan Award for all of you to attend The Manthan Award – Digital Inclusion for Development (http://www.manthanaward.org) :
Dear Friends,
I have been meaning to write this to you personally as you are part of my personal email contacts. Of course many of you know about these development days in day out because you may be part of it and be confirmed to be there.
However, for many of my address book, this is a chance to update, invite, touch base, and request you to get involved in this endeavour in whatever capacity you deem fit.
For the last 6 years, we organize and celebrate the fusion of information communication technology, new media and digital revolution with development at large – read the rural development through use of modern communication technologies. It is called The Manthan Award – Digital Inclusion for Development (http://www.manthanaward.org)
This year it is happening on December 18-19 at NCUI Campus, opposite Sri Fort Auditorium, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi 110016.
There will be people from as forgotten places as the last village in the country we don’t know, and from as compulsive places as any metro we cannot ignore, and there will be scores of tribals, weavers, sarpanches, grassroot innovators, people from villages, mufassils, towns and cities, ministers, bureaucrats, experts, academicians, technocrats, policy makers, social workers, NGOs, corporate, and all such diverse groups would be from across more than 25 Indian states, and also from countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and many more…
There would be at least 70-80 best practices presented, and as many exhibition stalls showcasing how ICT tools, telecom, mobile, radio, web, internet, are being used to improve and empower people’s life through its use in health, commerce, business, education, governance, entertainment, culture, science, environment, livelihood, and so on. We expect more than 1500 people if not more.
My observation is that many of you may oblige us to find time to come over. I assure you, it would be a lifetime experience. In the past many people have started looking at rural India as a biggest opportunity to find great reason to include a cause in their life, especially when it is the modern technology which is a driving means to the end.
I am attaching a detailed agenda for you to pick your own time and what you are interested in. My personal suggestion would be you must also come on 19th evening for the award gala at around 5 pm to see the 45 Best Practices selected from 400 Champions who use ICT and New Media to provide efficiency and empowerment to masses.
And there would also be folk music and puppet show from Rajasthan.
Another request: please confirm to me personally (osama[AT]defindia[DOT]net) that you would like to come so that you are formally registered, especially if you like to attend the proceedings/sessions.
Warmest regards,
Osama–
Osama Manzar
Founder & Director: Digital Empowerment Foundation
Chairman: The Manthan Award – Best e-Content for Development
Publisher & Editor: d-Content [enabling development through digital content]
Grand Jury & Board: World Summit Award, Austria
Process & Anchor: Dataquest e-Gov Champion Award; Bahrain eContent Award; Sri Lanka eContent Awardwww.defindia.net
www.manthanaward.org
www.dcontent.in
www.engo.in
www.localareaportal.org
www.gyanpedia.in
www.neerjaal.org
www.contentxchange.net
www.gyanvatika.net
www.youtube.com/manthanawardtv
www.wsis-award.org
www.econtentworldwide.orgskype: osamamanzar
Yahoo: osama_manzarosama[AT]gmail[DOT]com
osama[AT]defindia[DOT]net
T: +91-11-26532786/7
M: +91-98100428623rd Floor, 44 Kaalu Sarai
Near IIT Flyover, Next to Naraina Academy
New Delhi – 110017
