Projects
Digital Peace Fellowship
Digital Peace Fellowship
The Digital Peace Fellowship – North East Region is a six-month initiative designed to transform the digital engagement of youth into a force for peace and development. Rooted in the conflict-sensitive contexts of states like Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, and others, the fellowship equips 14 young peacebuilders with skills in digital storytelling, fact-checking, online safety, and peace-tech tools. Fellows are mentored by experts and connected to global peace networks as they design and implement micro community peace projects.
The program addresses the challenges of misinformation, online hate speech, and digital manipulation that often intensify ground-level conflicts. By strengthening digital literacy and fostering responsible online citizenship, the fellowship contributes to preventing digital conflicts, supporting reconciliation, and reducing the risk of internet shutdowns. Its outcomes include community campaigns, research on digital peace, and youth-led workshops reaching thousands of people, thereby strengthening regional solidarity, intercultural dialogue, and constitutional values of peace and unity.
HaqDisha - Entitle4All
HaqDisha: Entitle4All – Access to entitlements.
This is a flagship initiative that seeks to improve the lives of indigenous, tribal, and vulnerable groups and communities in the North East Region (NER) of India, with and through critical access to information and entitlements. The NER region presents unique challenges with its difficult terrain, remoteness, and hilly areas, often leaving vulnerable groups like the Tea Tribe and Adivasis in Assam disconnected from essential information and government entitlements. ‘HaqDisha’ aims to bridge this gap by enabling access to critical entitlements through feasible social and digital innovations, at the community level. The focus is on skills, capacities, process enhancements towards increased demand and uptake of entitlements. DIGITAL ACCESS TO ENTITLEMENTS IS A PRIORITY FOCUS WITH SKILLS DEVELOPED AND ENHANCED IN LOCALS TO NAVIGATE ONLINE SOURCES AND PLATFORMS TO INCREASE DEMAND AND UPTAKE FOR ENTITLEMENT AND SEEK GRIEVANCE REDRESS. The initiative is by the Council for Social and Digital Development (CSDD) and the North East Development Foundation (NEDF).
Cyber Shakti
Cyber Shakti - Cyber-safe business & digital literacy for women
Cyber Shakti is an initiative that aims to provide essential skills and knowledge to navigate the digital landscape safely and effectively by women. It is an empowering initiative designed to enhance digital literacy and cyber security awareness among women groups including rural women entrepreneurs in India, particularly in the North East region. It aims to empower young girls, women, rural women entrepreneurs (RWEs), in rural and urban areas, with the necessary tools to thrive in the digital age by enhancing their cyber security awareness and skills. Cyber Shakti is an initiative by the Council for Social and Digital Development (CSDD) and North East Development Foundation, and in partnership with Women in Tech India (WIT) and Women in Tech North-East India Chapter and Audius India.
Access for Aid
Access for Aid – Connectivity for humanitarian outreach in conflict zones
Access for Aid- Bridging Connectivity in Conflict Zones for Humanatarian Outreach affected by Longest Internet Shutdown in Manipur in North East Himalayan Region of India
Access for Aid is a humanitarian initiative, by the Council for Social and Digital Development (CSDD) and the North East Development Foundation (NEDF) aimed at providing free internet broadband packs to support humanitarian groups and agencies operating in conflict zones affected by prolonged internet shutdowns, since May – June 2023, in 3 districts of Manipur in North East Himalayan Region of India, bordering Myanmar. The project specifically targets locations experiencing ethnic violence between two major indigenous tribal groups, Meitei and Kukis, where access to reliable internet connectivity is critical for coordinating relief efforts, facilitating communication, and accessing vital information.
Digi Samarth
Digi Samarth – Digital & media literacy
Digi Samarth stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards enhanced digital and media literacy for individuals and communities. This transformative initiative caters to both basic and advanced needs, empowering users with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. Through its comprehensive approach, Digi Samarth equips individuals with the ability to critically evaluate information, discern truth from falsehood, and leverage technology responsibly.
Krisarthak
Krisarthak – Financial education for 2.5 lakh farmers
Krisarthak – The name has been formed after conjoining the word “Kri” which is taken from Krishi or farming and “Sarthak” which means meaningful or significant. Krisarthak is a program under Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART), under ARIAS Society of the Govt. of Assam, supported by the World Bank.
Digital Udyamita
Digital Udyamita – Women entrepreneurship
The Digital Udyamini initiative, a joint effort by the Council for Social and Digital Development (CSDD) and the North East Development Foundation (NEDF), aims to bridge the digital divide and empower rural women entrepreneurs (RWEs) in India, with focus on North East India.
Community Internet Library
Community Internet Library – Free digital access points.
As in December 2023, with the project design and technical support of the Council for Social and Digital Development (CSDD) and the North East Development Foundation (NEDF), 50 new Community Internet Libraries (CILs) are coming up in 10 districts of Assam and West Bengal, serving the rural and remote tea tribe and Adivasi communities, with access to last mile internet, information, services and opportunities, implemented by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), with the support of the Internet Society Foundation.
Internet Roshni
Building Opportunities, Leveraging Technology
The project ‘Internet Roshni’ (Light) is implemented to provide last mile internet and digital access for the vulnerable tea tribe & Adivasi community in Assam across 5 districts and 50 remote tea gardens, since 2022. The project with the project design and knowledge support from the Council for Social and Digital Development (CSDD), is implemented by the Digital empowerment Foundation (DEF), with the support of the Internet Society Foundation.
Digital Injot
Digital Injot – Light of digital inclusion
The Tea Tribe & Adivasi community residing in the tea gardens constitute 20% of Assam’s population in India. They have been brought to Assam during the colonial rule. Today, the community produces 53% of India’s total tea production, and is the country’s second largest tea producing state.
Digital Skilling for Livelihood, Employability & Entrepreneurship (DSLEE)
Digital Skilling for Livelihood, Employability & Entrepreneurship (DSLEE) for Youths of Tea Tribe & Adivasi Community (TTAC) in Assam
The Tea Tribe & Adivasi (TTAC) community residing in the Tea Gardens in Assam has one of the lowest social and economic indicators. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the community worst with tea production and supply affected, wages became irregular. With no steady, sustainable, affordable access to the internet, digital resources, opportunities and welfare announcements, the community are further excluded and now faces challenges for response, recovery and resilience.