While India was developing, I missed this silent revolution called ISRO or the Indian Space Research Organization. ISRO is commonly associated with scientists and engineers who work on communication and broadcasting through satellites. Their networks spread through multiple universities to educate the masses. During my recent visit to Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, I saw a very face different and an inspiring face of ISRO. It was a journey from the satellites to the villages. It was hard to believe enthusiastic engineers from ISRO traveling with us to the interiors of Jhabua District in one of the most remote parts of Madhya Pradesh. Mr Darji and Mr Gopani from ISRO led our vehicles through the treacherous roads to the village of Dumpada. I had always presumed that going to the villages and talking to the tribal localities about development issues was a terrain of the people like us in NGO world. It was surprising to find the same enthusiasm from the ISRO technocrats.
Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), Jhabua is a Human Resource and Development sponsored program to promote adult education through awareness campaigns and community projects. In collaboration with ISRO and the Sate Government of Madhya Pradesh; JSS, Jhabua initiated a unique project. The project will install satellite terminals in 60 villages covering all the 6 blocks of Jhabua. This will be a two way interactive education model through satellite communication. The programs will cover social issues in the local language through the Direct Reception System (DRS) deployed under Jhabua Development Communication Project (JDCP). The process will involve regular monitoring and maintenance through the dedicated staff of Jan Shikshan Sansthan Jhabua.
JDCP attempted to run a pilot program in 1996 and had two major components broadcasting and the Interactive Training Program (ITPs). After a year the project was handed over to the State Government. One of their terminals was installed in Dumpada. Led by the ISRO engineers, our platoon finally reached Dumpada. It is a scattered village in the Ranapur Block of Jhabua District.
We were all eager to hear from the villagers about the fate of this interactive terminal. From afar to our disappointment we saw the dilapidated satellite on top of the Panchayat Ghar. Panchayat Ghar is a room allotted to the local government for their administrative work. The satellite was tattered and torn from all sides. We all looked visibly disturbed, but mustered the courage to go inside the Panchayat Ghar to see if we could find any reminisce of the terminal. The terminal, which had a TV like appearance, was covered with pieces of rags and had a thick pile of dust covering it. Mr Darji removed the rags and was able to catch a glimpse of screen. Mr Darji narrated how he had traveled to Dumpada in 1996, without any roads then, all covered in mud carried the heavy satellite and terminal with much difficulty to the village and had installed it. The villagers explained that the satellite program was very useful, but later on because of lack of maintenance was stopped abruptly. They showed keen interest on the viewing of the program again.
Our visit to Dumpada made us realize that community based projects should be run in collaboration with the Government and NGOs backed by strong technical support. The Government helps to find existing resources from the community, the NGO’s help to understand the pulse of the community and mobilize the locals. Technical assistance is needed to run the nuts and bolts of the program. This tripartite alliance between ISRO, JSS Jhabua and the State Government is a first of its kind. Like JSS Jhabua, NGO’s have the potential to become the interface between the bureaucrats and the technocrats. NGO’s build civil society participation and ownership into the projects and make it sustainable.
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