Convention - The Grameen Gyan Abhiyan (GGA) Secretariat held the 5th Convention of the Grameen Gyan Abhiyan from October 3, - October 5, 2008 at the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi. The theme of the Convention focused on the role of GGA in the architecture of inclusive growth.
Technology Partners Pavilion - During the convention different GGA partners displayed their rural communication and content products in the technology Partners Pavilion. The pavilion was set up from 3rd October to 5th October and demonstrated recent innovations in the digital empowerment of rural areas. Intel® participated in the exhibition to display its Education initiatives in India. There were visitors from all over India who were briefed by the Intel representatives about several programs under the Intel® Education initiatives such as Intel® Learn, Intel® Teach, IRIS etc. There was an overwhelming response and interest amongst the GGA delegates and other visitors who appreciated the efforts undertaken by Intel and were keen to find out about interventions in their states.
Intel® Stall at Technology Partners Pavilion, before the formal inauguration.
The Pavilion was inaugurated by Smt. Purandareswari, Minister of State for Higher Education. She was well aware of Intel’s efforts in the field of education and she congratulated Intel for the successful integration of technology in education. She said “…now that Intel has reached all parts of India, there is a need to sustain and scale up the impact”. Earlier in her speech, she had mentioned ‘Intel® Teach to the Future’ as one of the best practices for technology integration in education.
Smt. Purandeshwari at the Intel Stall, interacting with Ms Valsa, and other representatives
Shri. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Union Minister for Rural Development, Government of India took special notice of the program and asked the Intel representatives to explain the implementation of the program in the rural context. He complimented Intel on its rural outreach and mentioned that computer literacy would immensely benefit children from rural schools.
Mr. P. Chidambaram, Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Government of India also visited the Pavilion on the 5th October. He spent some time viewing the program posters, and the video displaying Intel’s success story in Mallapuram. The Intel representatives at the stall explained to him various Intel Education initiatives for imparting 21st century skills such as collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking using project based approach in addition to technology literacy. He complimented Intel for its hard work in ‘Grameen India’.
Panel Discussion on Digital Literacy and Distance Learning on 4th October - Intel was invited to serve on a panel discussion on ‘Digital Literacy and Distance Learning’. Ms Valsa Williams, Corporate Head, (North and East) represented Intel and generated a lot of interest amongst the panelists and the audience regarding Intel interventions for empowering teachers and students, especially in the rural sector. Other panelists included Dr. Sehba Hussain (Chair), Member Secretary and Executive Director of the Better Education through Innovation (BETI) foundation, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan; Dr.S Ramakrishnan, National Coordinator for India Development Gateway and Director General CDAC; Dr Ajay Kumar, IT Secretary, Kerala; Mr. Rajeev Katyal, Director – Education, Microsoft; Dr. Phil Malone, Director Country wise Communications and Dr. Amol C Goje, Director, VIIT. The audience included delegates who are associated with the Grameen Gyan Abhiyan, an association of over 400 national and international organizations striving to empower rural India through ICT.
