There can be no doubt that ICT is a major driver of economic and social modernization. Information and Communication Technologies are not just limited to research and employment but in almost all sections of the society including education, entertainment, public administration etc. Another significant facet of ICT has been that they have emerged as a powerful tool for gender empowerment. However, ensuring access to ICT tools is critical to bridging the gender digital divide and achieving empowerment. Equally significant is equipping women across all sections to make effective use of ICT by providing skills education and training.

It is with a view to empowering women through equipping them to use ICT that Kerala State IT Mission has initiated programmes aimed solely at women, especially women from the less privileged sections of the society.

KSITM has entered into an Agreement with the Trivandrum based Sakhi Women’s Resource Centre to educate women on ICT skills. Conduct of awareness workshops and campaigns on the ‘Misuse of Communication Technologies and New Forms of Violence Against Women and Children’ is aimed as part of this initiative.

KSITM also initiated a training programme for 100 fisherwomen of the coastal hamlet of Poovar in Trivandrum. The aim of this 45-day free training programme has been to impart ICT skills of fishweromen, who are among the most deprived sections of the society. Even though fisherwomen contribute a great deal in ensuring that the fishery value chain is successfully completed by playing a crucial role in post harvesting and marketing, their contribution has been seldom recognized.

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