RDPR Department launches Tarangini programme to distribute Alexa devices to Arivu Kendras

In an attempt to make Gram Panchayat Arivu Kendras more accessible to people with disabilities, the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) has launched the Tarangini programme, where Alexa-assistive devices have been distributed to 200 select kendras. The programme was inaugurated by Minister for RDPR and IT/BT Priyank Kharge.

In the first phase, Arivu Kendras from Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chickballapur, and Bengaluru South (formerly Ramanagara) zilla panchayats have been selected under the programme.

Implemented in partnership with United Way Bengaluru and supported by CSR funds from State Street Company, the initiative has been launched primarily targeting people with visual disabilities, for whom listening is the primary mode of learning.

Mr. Kharge pointed out that the RDPR Department has already launched the Darshini programme to make Arivu Kendras inclusive for persons with disabilities, under which eight assistive devices have already been distributed. Tarangini builds on this initiative.

According to Mr. Kharge, since the transfer of rural library management from the Department of Public Libraries to RDPR in March 2019, progress has been made under the supervision of gram panchayats. Arivu Kendras have been upgraded from traditional libraries to multifunctional centres providing digital learning content, career guidance, constitution literacy, inclusive technologies for persons with disabilities, and expert-led knowledge-building sessions.

There are 5,888 active Arivu Kendras in rural Karnataka, out of which 5,767 have been digitized.

The Minister also acknowledged the numerous organisations that have entered into MoUs with the government without any financial requirement, offering free programmes at Arivu Kendras to benefit diverse sections of society.

These organisations include Centre for Budget and Policy Studies (CBPS); Science Gallery, Bengaluru; Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA); Kalike, Bengaluru (TATA), National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology; Pallium India, Thiruvananthapuram; Stichting BRAC International, and Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS).

The launch event was attended by Uma Mahadevan, Additional Chief Secretary (Panchayat Raj), and Arundhathi Chandrashekhar, Commissioner, Panchayat Raj Department, along with officials from State Street Company, United Way Bengaluru, and representatives from various civil society organisations.