Mphasis has partnered with Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) to spearhead digital transformation among the masses in rural India.
The drive began with the launch of an initiative for the artisans and weavers at Musiri, a small hamlet in Trichi district of Tamil Nadu.
At an event organised in Trichi, Vishesh Nautiyal, Director – South Zone, Ministry of Textiles, and P Vasu, Deputy Director, TN Department of Handlooms and Textiles, virtually inaugurated five digitally-connected cluster resource centres at Natrajnagar, Manamedu, Mangalampudur, Paithamparai and Thathiangerpet in Musiri.
Such resource centres have been set up to provide space, digital infrastructure and equipment required for transformation of the cluster community.
Mphasis in association with DEF plans to transform these traditional skill-based clusters in and around Musiri region into integrated digitally-enabled clusters for socio economic prosperity.
The programme includes development of a ‘Cluster Wireless Network’. The model, according to sources in the know, would help create an ecosystem by connecting schools, health centres and anganwadis in the region.
To enhance employability, the partners plan to deploy Cluster Core Skills Development along with Cluster Tertiary Skills Development to encourage entrepreneurship and sustainability of the cluster members.
V Suryanarayanan, Chief Financial Officer, Mphasis, said through such initiatives, the company plans to empower the rural inhabitants and expand their product reach. “We are committed to bringing a difference in the lives of the people. The programme also envisions development of an exclusive eCommerce portal and aiding the cluster community connect with national and global customers.”
Statistics show that the handloom sector provides the second largest employment, next only to agriculture in the country.