The kinder face of Microsoft

NEW DELHI

FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Kainaat a 17 year old residing in Jajmua in Kanpur with her family cleared
her matriculation with great difficulty and due to shortage of funds could not
continue her studies. Microsoft's - Datamation Foundation CTLC in Jajmau helped
her in making her dream of learning computing come true. After the completion of
her free computer training under the Unlimited Potential IT skills training
curriculum she got a job as a Data Entry Operator at the Income Tax office and
was able to support her widowed mother financially.

We always talk and read about products being launched and technology
introduced. But have we ever realized how exactly the technology or to be
precise IT can really change people's lifestyle. Software giant Microsoft
Corporation India is not only busy launching technologies, but is equally
concerned about how masses globally can really benefit out of it.

Under its Unlimited Potential (UP) Program also called as Project Jyoti,
Microsoft India has announced an additional funding of Rs 6 crore to four of its
partner NGOs. The grant beneficiaries include Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) India,
Datamation Foundation Charitable Trust, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and
Udayan Care. With this announcement the total grants given by Microsoft under
Project Jyoti in India since inception stand at Rs 35 crore.

The above-mentioned real story is a clear example of how Microsoft's UP program
is enabling people benefit out of IT in the real sense. Kainaat informed,
"Today, I am working with an export division of a tannery at a salary of Rs.
2,500 plus other facilities like bonus etc. I've become a pillar of support for
my family now as I'm able to fulfill their needs."

Speaking on the occasion Dr Akhtar Badshah, Senior Director and Worldwide
Head, Community Affairs, Microsoft Corporation said, "IT is a great enabler
for individuals to explore new opportunities and improve their lives. This is
particularly true for marginalized communities. Microsoft's UP program seeks to
help these communities bridge the divide."

Microsoft is making a cumulative grant of Rs 2.88 crore to the MS Swaminathan
Research Foundation, which will mobilize its operations across Tamil Nadu,
Pondicherry, Maharashtra and Kerala. The AKF India recipient of Rs 1.46 crore
grant, will utilize this fund covering over 250 villages in five drought-prone
and tribal districts of Gujarat and one district of Madhya Pradesh in
partnership with existing farmers' federations and women's self help groups (SHGs).

With grant worth Rs 1.26 crore to Datamation Foundation Charitable Trust, the
NGO will enhance its penetration in Uttar Pradesh. Udayan Care - which works
towards improving the quality of life of the disadvantaged, especially women and
children in the slum areas in and around Delhi gets the remaining Rs 20.75 lakh.

When Vikas Goswami, Lead - Corporate Social Responsibility Legal &
Corporate Affairs, Microsoft India was asked, if there are some regions where
Microsoft wants to concentrate more, she replied, "We are not targeting any
particular state but we are penetrating across India along with our partner
NGOs. We want to establish the Community Technology Learning Centre (CTLCs) in
areas where people face problems like communication, transportation and cost. We
are trying to bring the IT to the doorsteps of the deprived and help them to
learn, use and apply this knowledge to their respective lives."

Microsoft is setting targets for itself in terms of number of CTLCs and
number of people who are getting trained. She also informed that Microsoft wants
to establish 2200 CTLCs by the end of 2010 across India. Also, they plan to
train around 2.5 lakh people through these centers.

Under the UP program launched in India in 2004, Project Jyoti involves a
joint commitment by Microsoft and its NGO partners to deliver effective
interventions for taking IT to women and under-privileged communities in rural
and semi-urban India. The pivot of the program is a networked CTLC which is a
free or low cost, friendly place (in a community center, school, housing
facility or other convenient public location) where people of all ages and
abilities can come to learn about computers, use the Internet, explore new
careers, further their education, participate in community activities or develop
technology skills. "We are very excited about the impact of our program in
India and are committed to its long term benefit in the country," Dr
Badshah further informed.

Till date Microsoft has made grants of Rs 35 crore in the country. Under this
program it has collaborated with 11 NGO partners so far and currently impacts 17
states and union territories across India.

IT training does not mean only developing the know-how about the computers
amongst the recipients but is aimed at building their confidence to face the
world. The training is very flexible, as per the person's requirement courses
are modified. If a person just wants to learn Excel then he is just taught that.

These NGOs sometimes charge for these trainings. To this Vikas informed,
"We fund the NGOs for setting up of CTLCs but the rest is taken care by
them. NGOs at the end of the day have to see their long-term sustainability as
well. Since they know the community they are dealing with better so they
accordingly charge courses. Some charge Rs 500 for a three-month course and some
other charge Rs 150 per month. In any case the fees is very nominal. If a person
is not in a position then there is no fess. Usually women and children are given
free training."

Manju Singh, a 26 years old widow who lives in a nearby slum in Delhi with
her three children was thrown out of her in-law's home after her husband's
death. She had to seek shelter at her father's house. Manju said, "One day
I came to know about Microsoft-Udayan care CTLC. In the beginning, I was not
sure, but I enrolled myself. After completing the three-month Unlimited
Potential course today, I am teaching computers as well as some other subjects
to primary classes in a neighboring private school, and earn Rs. 2500 per
month." These days, Manju is busy learning Web-designing.

There are many other success stories where the computer training by
Microsoft's CTLCs has helped people support their families in very stringent
conditions. Such initiatives will also support the proliferation of e-governance
because without computing knowledge, there is no point in deploying IT
infrastructure across the country.