Hyderabad|India|November'2009: NASSCOM Foundation, the CSR arm of NASSCOM, India ’s premier IT industry body, has been at the forefront of technology enablement for NGOs across the country.

In another landmark move, NASSCOM Foundation has come together with TechSoup Global, USA to announce the availability of Windows 7, the latest version of Microsoft Windows OS, for distribution to Indian NGOs. This technology donation is available to registered and qualified NGOs on www.BiGTech.in.

Announcing this at its fourth National Consultation of the NASSCOM Knowledge Network (NKN) program, Ms. Rufina Fernandes, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation, said, “Providing state-of-the-art software and technology to NGOs helps not just in terms of providing access to the latest technologies, but increases NGO efficiency and effectiveness. The availability of Windows 7 is a significant step in this direction. Windows 7 is arguably the most easy to use software today. NGOs can run their processes faster and better.”

Mr. Ravi Venkatesan, Chairman, Microsoft India, added, “At Microsoft, we believe in the transformative power of technology - and that cost should not be a barrier to access. In India today, there is a need for utilizing technology at the grassroots, and we are glad to be able to play a part in enabling this. Making our software available in association with TechSoup Global and NASSCOM Foundation is a step towards reaching out to communities underserved by technology.”

"We are thrilled with the response of NGOs to the availability of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system," said Mr. Mike Yeaton, Vice President of Community for TechSoup Global. "In the first week alone, TechSoup Global and its partners have processed Windows 7 donation requests from thousands of NGOs around the world. We're grateful that so many NGOs have used the TechSoup Global Network to take advantage of Microsoft's generous software donation."

BiGTech.in, in partnership with TechSoup, is the key technology philanthropy program of NASSCOM Foundation. This online marketplace was specifically developed to provide original software and hardware to Indian NGOs and social development organizations for free of cost. The BiGTech program was set up with the aim of assisting and enabling such NGOs to leverage ICT in the best way possible – with optimum enablement of technology for their processes at the minimum costs possible. The BiGTech.in programme has reached out to over 350 registered NGOs in 138 districts across 26 states in India . BigTech has so far enabled 2300 product donations to the tune of around Rs.40 million to NGOs and non-profits in India . BiGTech encourages NGOs to use of legal, genuine software and services in its social work. BiGTech’s motto is “do right while doing good”!

The availability of Microsoft Windows 7 for Indian NGOs was made public at the National Consutlation 2009. The National Consultation, or NC 2009, is the fourth national consultation in the series. Organised by NASSCOM Foundation, the consultation is being held for a three day period, from 4th to 6th of November, 2009. The three days consultation will include a one day conference and two days of training workshops for NASSCOM Knowledge Network centre managers and network managers, and will provide a platform to discuss and develop on the practices in place for using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for development.

Reachout's News Bureau
November' 2009