IGNOU would be organizing a Workshop to have a brain storming session on introducing an IT Mass Literacy Programme, jointly with Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and IT, Govt. of India. The Workshop will be held in IGNOU main Campus on 15th July 2011. The day long activity will be scheduled, mainly, in four sessions including the inaugural session. It is targeted to bring various experts associated with IT Education / Literacy from the governmental organizations, leading educational institutions, Civil Society Orgnisations, State Resource Centers, Panchayati Raj, Sakshat, eminent Personalities in the field from well reputed IT companies etc., to participate in this day long event. India has carved out a place for itself in the world arena of IT and Indian IT industry has made significant progress in the past years and has contributed to the Indian economy. The digital technology has come up in a big way and has invaded almost all fields of life. With the spreading of e-Learning, the IT is being taken to remote corners of the country with access to the rural masses to draw the benefits of growth of IT and spread of e-Gov. solutions. To reap the benefits of this growth there is a need to bridge the digital divide by spreading IT literacy. Government of India has constituted a Working Group on IT Mass Literacy Programme headed by Prof. V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai, VC, IGNOU. It include representatives such as Joint Secretary's of MHRD (Adult Education), Ministry of Labour & Employment, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Rural Development, Joint Secretary (e-Infra / e-Learning), Joint Secretary (e-Governance), Department of IT, MC&IT, NIIT, NASSCOM, IT Secretaries of Kerala, J&K, Mizoram, Bihar, Assam, Chattisgarh and Sr. Director & HOD (HRD), DIT as the Member Secretary. The main objective of the Working Group is to evolve long term strategies for the IT Mass Literacy Programme and suitable approach for the implementation of these strategies. The Working Group is working to evolve a definition for IT literacy, which could be applied at national level keeping in view the various latest developments including the emerging mobile applications. “We need to have different levels of programmes starting from IT awareness to various application domain-specific programmes to cover applications aimed at farmers, organized and un-organised sectors worker, etc.” said Prof. V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai, VC, IGNOU. The brain storming session will bring about a common understanding of the subject covering the various application domains and is expected to provide an insight into evolving a definition for IT Literacy, campaign & programme and an approach to leveraging various projects / initiatives in the area.
