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The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Published 22 years ago
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Rickshaws connect India's poor

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According to trends cited in this article, mobile phone operators in India added 1.8 million new subscribers in the month of October 2003. However, only 23 million people, out of a population of 1.1 billion, have access to mobile phones. By the end of 2004, 7 out of 100 people will have access to a landline.


To address this situation, the regional mobile phone company Shyam Telecom, which operates in the state of Rajasthan, has created a mobile public calling office programme ("Chalta Flirta PCO"). In an effort to increase business while helping the poor, the company has equipped hand-pedaled rickshaws with a battery, a billing machine, and a printer. Most of the approximately 200 rickshaw drivers are women and disabled persons. Reflecting on the fact that many of these people live in poverty, the company's president said: "We want them to be self sufficient, we want them to take pride in themselves and we want them to revel in the glory of being financially independent." The drivers earn a 20% commission on every call, which amounts to between 6,000 (US$131) to 9,000 (US$197) rupees per month. The company charges nothing for the initial set-up costs. By pedaling wherever they wish - for however many hours per day they wish - throughout the state, some drivers support a family of 5 people, the company claims.


The company is currently developing a system by which a camel is equipped with a wirelessly connected computer, for use in the desert. Two camels are in commission as of this writing. Shyam is also planning to add internet-ready laptops to the rickshaws, so that citizens using the traveling units can send emails as well as speak on the phone and send text messages.


Click here for the full article on the BBC News site.