Sisu Samarakshak receives the World Summit Award – 2005 in Tunis
By Vikas Verma Not long after winning the Indian national “Manthan GOLD Award” in July 2005 at New Delhi, Sisu Samarakshak went on to receive the World Summit Award- 2005 in e-health category on 16 November, 2005. “Sisu Samarakshak”- (or Child Protector) - is an initiative by UNICEF Hyderabad Field Office to impart knowledge on health care to rural communities. The World Summit Award is a global contest for selecting and promoting the world’s best e-content and applications in the context of the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). At the World Summit Award Gala, producers received awards for their rich and innovative products, which had been pre-selected by an international jury. Submissions to win at the World Summit Award (WSA) were received from 168 countries. The award to UNICEF was given by H.E. Shaikh Ali Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Transportation of the Kingdom of Bahrain. UNICEF delegation was headed by Mr. Ado Vaher, UNICEF Director of the office of United Nations Affairs and External Affairs. Upon his request the award was received by Mr. Rajen Varada, Project Manager SSK. While receiving the award Mr. Varada said “We are grateful to the village women of Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka State who helped us at every step with their feedback in designing the portal and the award really belongs to them”. About Sisu Samarakshak Sisu Samarakshak (SSK) is a unique initiative to bridge the digital divide through local linkages. It attempts to reaffirm UNICEF objectives to consider how traditional outreach and development services can be supplemented and “e”-enhanced to be mainstreamed into the information revolution. It is meant to strengthen and streamline the massive outreach of the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS), the public health system, the education system, as well as the strong self-help group movement through the application and integration of information technology. Using touch screens/ mouse, pictorial and audio interface, SSK aims to accomplish the following: • provide access to accurate up-to-date information on issues related to human development, including child health, development, nutrition; maternal care; HIV/AIDS prevention; safe water supply and sanitation & hygiene, based on UNICEF’s Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) framework • Equip frontline development workers with information to enhance ability to accurately convey development messages and facilitate desired behaviour change and be linked to on-the-job training • Augment current programme supported by the state governments and UNICEF and accelerate achievement of goals pertaining to children’s and women’s development.
|
