Dramatic irony (and the importance of phones).

The DHAN Foundation, and specifically its Advanced Center for Enabling Disaster Risk Reduction (where I'm working) has conducted a number of pilot projects to reduce the disaster risks of very poor people.

A number of these focus on enhancing communication systems for rural communities. These include the internet, multimedia, folk media, radio and mobile phones. The idea is to give people the access to the information they need to... oh... for example.. a) get jobs, b) farm better c) clean their water d) reinforce their housing or e) warn each other about oncoming floods or cyclones, earthquakes or tsunamis.

All of this to say that communication is a critical tool not only for development but for people's security.

Business India this week reports on a study that found that rural India has 3.3 million active internet users (as of last March.)

"The penetration of the Internet in rural India is directly related to the activities of the government and NGOs," said Subho Ray, president of the International and Internet and Mobile Association of India, which conducted the study. Yay, us!

In the communities where DHAN works, there are village information centers (VICs) equipped with a computer and internet connection, and an operator who can help anyone who comes in.

One of DHAN's pilot projects, about which I'm currently reading, examines how to maximize useful multi-media content on how rural farmers can reduce their vulnerability to hazards, and to make this content available at the VICS. Another set up a community radio and supported community members to create 90 hours of relevant content, some specifically related to reducing vulenrability. The goal is to get people listening to the radio, so that it can be used to let people know about danger. A third project looks at how to use mobile phones to create an early warning system at the first signs of a hazard like a flood or a cyclone.

The article says that the Internet will be more useful if content can be easily translated into local languages, and even better, with text-to-speech capabilities. Interesting.

"The study is timely," the article concludes, "given the various government and private sector initiatives to connect rural India and the potential of this segment to the business plans of Internet and telecommunication companies."