Cell – The Social Change
Editor’s Note: This contribution is from Saad Khan, the community editor of SocialBridges.org, where this post appeared originally. TelecomPk.net fully supports the noteworthy efforts of SocialBridges.org.
Cellular revolution has taken Pakistan by storm. As the mobile density in Pakistan is reaching 56%, it’s high time that we discuss the prospects of cell phone-based social revolution in Pakistan. Mobile phones are increasingly being used as a social tool across the globe – as a weapon for the eradication of poverty and disease and as a sustainable option.
Pakistani cellular companies are also trying to catch on with this growing ‘cellular activism’ frenzy. It’s true that cellular companies have limited scope of action as far as brining social change is concerned still almost all the mobile companies of Pakistan are doing some kind of social uplift projects. Telenor, for instance, has launched a farmers’ uplift scheme – TeleKisan – besides the apna PCO and other schemes. Similarly, other cellular companies are also conducting some activitis in the avenues of social uplift.
The responsibility, however, lies on the nonprofit sector and not just with the telcos. Non-profit organizations (NPOs) are the engines of social change in the developing countries. Mobile phones can be used as a foot soldier for social change if their use is extended beyond communications. NPOs can team up with the cellular companies to help providing technical knowledge to the farmers (National Rural Support Program is collaborating with Telenor in this case) or they can forge alliances with the medical community to provide free medical advice to those living in far off areas with limited resources. Some African nations are already making it big in what can be termed as cellular farming. The role of mobile phones in fighting against HIV/AIDS has already been discussed in one of our earlier posts.
Asia is not lagging behind as well. The success of Grameen in mobilizing people through ‘mobiles’ is known to all of us. Other networks like LIRNEasia are also doing commendable job in changing people’s lives by the use of cellular technology. International donor agencies are also eager to work with such organizations like LIRNEasia. Infact they are financing the whole project.
Microcredit organizations, as discussed above, are rapidly adopting cellular technology to enhance their footprint. Mobile phones are yet to be used for microfinancing in Pakistan though there are endless possibilities. To narrate an interesting fact, many small entrepreneurs, including women, have themselves understood the magic of cellular technology in expanding their businesses. They do face the shortage/availability of funds due to lack of financing but the cell phones are surely helping them in getting out of the tentacles of poverty.
Corporate sector too has a major role to play. Instead of simply doling out a few millions in charity, local corporate giants, along with the multinational conglomerates, should come forward with new ideas of using cellular technology for poverty alleviation. It’s ironic to note that when the whole world is eyeing profitability at the bottom of the pyramid by using cell phones, Pakistani corporate sector is still reluctant to accept the change. Cellular technology is ruling the roost so isn’t it the time to ‘cell’ the social change.
TelecomPk.Net is a leading source of information and analysis about Pakistan Telecom industry. 
