Inauguration of the Chandni Chowk Community Multi-Media Center(CMC)
On August 19, 2005


UNESCO’s cross-cutting, multi-dimensional work in Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) got a new fillip with the setting up of a Community Multi-Media Center (CMC) in the heart of old Delhi in Chandni Chowk at Balli Maran.

The Honourable Union Minister for Science & Technology , Mr. Kapil Sibal, who is also the elected member of Parliament from the Chandni Chowk constituency; inaugurated the CMC on Friday August 19th 2005. Prof. M. Tawfik, UNESCO’s Director for India & South Asia and Mr. Haroon Yusuf , Transport & Power Minister Delhi State, an elected member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly from Balli Maran alongwith several dignitaries and a large number of members of the local community were present at the `glittering’ and `charged’ inaugural ceremony of the CMC.

The CMC has been set up by the Datamation Foundation Charitable Trust, a registered non-profit organization; on the advice of UNESCO. Datamation Foundation was asked by UNESCO to replicate the highly successful Seelampur CMC project, operational for last three years, in the walled city’s Balli Maran area where the problems of the marginalized and impoverished women are similar to those of at Seelampur.

Datamation Foundation’s Ms. Sarita Sharma & Brig. Y.R. Maindiratta started the onerous task of identifying an appropriate community place in the Chandni Chowk area for setting up of CMC. The Minister’s office guided the Datamation Foundation and based on joint efforts of both the parties, the Foundation was successful in getting space within a Municipal Corporation of Delhi school; for setting up of the CMC.

The preparations for setting up of Chandni Chowk CMC were started by Datamation several months before the inaugural. Datamation’s team actively mobilized the community’s marginalized women and tried to build their
capacities in identifying appropriate livelihood opportunities enabled by the ICTs. The Foundation got the hardware installed many days prior to the inaugural, apart from ensuring actual commencement of the ICT teaching-learning process.
The Union Minister for the Science & Technology Mr. Sibal was welcomed by Ms, Sarita Sharma-Datamation Foundation’s Managing Trustee. She also welcomed other guests as Brig. Y.R. Maindiratta-Datamation Foundation’s Trustee introduced the guests and briefly explained the context of the CMC in the overall socio-economic development of the disadvantaged women. Brig. Maindiratta highlighted `positive’ role played by the Union Minister Mr. Sibal in ensuring all-round development of his constituency driven by innovative ideas. The Chandni Chowk CMC was

yetanother step in Mr. Sibal’s quest for finding out-of-the box development ideas.

Brig. Maindiratta also spoke about Prof. Tawfik’s deep belief in the enabling power of the ICTs for the development of women in particular. The Chandni Chowk CMC is the last project approved by Prof. Tawfik in India. Consequently the people of Chandni Chowk and Balli Maran, shall remain forever grateful to Prof. Tawfik for his vision and commitment to India’s `unreached’.

The Union Minister took a round of the CMC, after inauguration. Mrs. Sarita Sharma explained to the Minister briefly about the `skills enhancement multi-media modules’ deployed at the CMC and how the modules facilitated rapid teaching-learning process.

Mr. Sibal showed keen interest in the CMC and asked various questions.

In his inaugural address; Mr. Sibal thanked UNESCO and Prof. Tawfik in particular for accepting his request to set up a CMC in his area. He exhorted the Chandni Chowk communities and women in particular, to use the CMC for improving their skills. He assured the gathering about up scaling the activities of the CMC by providing more computers, provided the communities came forward for effective usage of the CMCs services and make the CMC `socially’ as well as `economically’ sustainable.

Prof. Tawfik in his address said Chandni Chowk reminded him about his own home town Cairo—same

hustle, bustle of the bazaars and narrow lanes. He reminded the gathering about Mr. Sibal’s keen interest in innovation and how he pitched for a CMC in his area. He said the CMC was his last official engagement as UNESCO South Asia’s Director and he was proud to have furthered Mr. Sibal’s vision and dynamism.

Delhi’s Transport & Power Minister Mr. Yusuf complimented UNESCO and Chandni Chowk communities for the CMC and thanked Mr. Sibal for his long-standing contribution towards all round development of the Chandni Chowk area.

The Meeting ended with a vote of thanks for all dignitaries.