Introduction Print

Introduction:

In the contemporary world, a revolution in digital technologies has changed our way of life. Those with access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are benefiting from them in every sphere of life. They have the potential to contribute to the empowerment of women by expanding rural women’s socio-economic, political and physical spaces in the developing world. However, there is a need to provide quality training opportunities to impart ICT skills to underserved rural women. The ICTs interventions provide ample evidence that rural women of the developing countries are keen to acquire innovative digital technology skills and significantly improve their lives. Women who participated in an internationally sponsored a project that set up Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLCs) in sixteen districts in Pakistan obtained jobs and started micro-enterprises. ICTs have contributed to improving the women’s socioeconomic, political and spatial conditions in Pakistan.

 

The CTLC program aims to help empowering marginalized women of remote areas by imparting quality ICT training, inculcating life skills and providing data transcription training enabling them to avail opportunities - to adapt to digital technology based professions rather than traditional/conventional ones, for which the roles of women have been ascribed to. While taking up first and eighth MDG, the project aims at two goals enunciated at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000 – “to promote gender equality and empower women” – by making available the benefits of new technologies, particularly ICTs.

 

The ICTs interventions provide ample evidence that rural women of the developing countries are keen to acquire innovative digital technology skills and significantly improve their lives. Women who participated in an internationally sponsored a pilot project that set up Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLCs) in sixteen districts in Pakistan obtained jobs and started micro-enterprises. ICTs have contributed to improving the women’s socioeconomic, political and spatial conditions in Pakistan.The project profile is given below.