Sanchar Shakti Project launched for Women Empowerment

The Sanchar Shakti project of the Department of Telecommunications was launched by President Pratibha Patil on 7 March 2011. Sanchar Shakti project is a suite of mobile value-added services (VAS) to provide a variety of useful information to women and women's self-help groups. The information to be provided would include details about government schemes and health and social issues, besides inputs related to and training in livelihood.

Sanchar Shakti project is financed by the Universal Service Obligation Funds (USOFs), and envisages empowering women particularly those in the rural areas with the help of NGOs and other national and international organisations working for the uplift of women.

The Sanchar Shakti scheme includes four categories of projects aimed at rural women SHGs — giving subsidised VAS subscription, setting up mobile repair, modem repaid centres in rural areas and installing solar-based mobile charging centres in rural areas.