Mr. Nurul Islam Khan produces rice along with beans, bitters and bottle-gourds on his land. He is doing his best to make an honest living for his 6-member family with an average monthly family income of BDT 8,333.00.
One day, he found that his cultivated beans, bitters and bottle-gourds were attacked by harmful insects. He became worried and started consultation with his neighbors.
From the neighbors, he was advised to consult with local agricultural field officer regarded as Block Supervisor, a post of Agricultural Extension Department under the Ministry of Agriculture. They also informed him, if he fails to get hold of the desired officer, then he can pay a visit to local Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre) to receive effective agricultural information service through various ICT channels.
The urgency to receive effective agricultural advice made him looked for the local Block Supervisor first, but he failed to get hold of him.
Then he sought informational help from Pallitathya Kendra. Thus he paid a visit to the Information Centre and he chose to use the verbal information service from the CD Content. He received the desired advice on October 10, 2006.
Mr. Nurul Islam Khan applied the prescribed insecticides and dramatically got rid of his problems. Thus he saved his beans, bitters and bottle-gourds and above all, his livelihood.
According to his calculation, Mr. Nurul Islam Khan was able to prevent a total loss of BDT 5,000.00 just by applying the received advice on his bean trees. If he wouldn’t take and applied the received information precisely, he would make a total loss of BDT 2000.00 out of his affected bitter field. Likewise, he was able to save an amount of BDT 1,500.00 from his bottle-gourds. Mr. Khan was able to save a total of BDT 8,500.00 without paying any charge for the service offered by the Pallitathya Kendra. He thinks that information services provided by the Pallitathya Kendra can save the farmers greatly from potential loss. He suggests that if the infomediaries of the Centre visit farmers of the area regularly with necessary information then the farmers like him will be immensely benefited.

Ms. Subarna Akhtar is the daughter of Mr. Abul Kashem and Ms. Mosammat Nureza Akhtar. Her poor father is a farmer by profession, who works hard to make a living for their 4-member family with a minimal amount of BDT 3,000.00 on average per month.
She appeared in the Secondary School Certificate Exam (SSC) in 2005 from her Charpara Mahadevpur High School. Usually it takes 10-15 days with an amount more than BDT 20.00 to collect the nationally held exam result, which is approximately 2 kilometres away from her residence.
She along with her parents were very anxious to learn about her result. There is no institution or service provider to provide her exam result instantly in her village.

The concerned authority published the SSC result nationwide on June 22nd, 2006. She heard from her neighbors that she would be able to collect her result from Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre) instantly through the available internet service. Thus she rushed to the Centre, half a kilometre away from her permanent address on the very day just to learn whether she passed the exam or not. 
At first, she took her grade information on June 22nd by spending only BDT. 5. Then she visited the Centre on the following day to collect a print out of her result sheet by spending an amount of BDT 10.00. Ms. Subarna and her parents were surprised to collect their desired information so fast by spending such a little amount of money.
Unfortunately, Ms. Subarna could not pass the exam completely. She decided to appear in the upcoming exam for one subject. Although she is very satisfied with the received information service of the Pallitathya Kendra. She feels that if the Centre can put the results on a board, it will be very helpful for the local students to get rid of their anxiety fast and easily without spending any money.

Mr. Shoeb Mahamud is the son of Mr. Abdul Aziz Nizam and Ms. Ayesha Akhtar. His father is a farmer, who is making a living for their 7-member family with a monthly average income of BDT 10,000.00. He is the fifth children of his parents.
He appeared in the secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam in 2005 from Charpara Mahadevpur High School, which is a kilometre away from his residence.
It usually takes 15-20 days for his school to collect the SSC result sheet. In addition, there is no service provider available in his area to collect his SSC exam result instantly.
Naturally, he was anxious to collect information about the outcome of the exam. So he asked his freinds to give him information about any nearby service provider to get relieved. They advised him to visit the nearby Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre). In the meantime, he was also approached by the infomediaries, from whom he learnt bout different information services of the centre delivered through different ICT channels. Thus he paid a visit to the centre on June 25, 2006 and collected his SSC result sheet through internet browsing. He himself and his parents were amazed to collect the desired information so fast by spending only BDT 10.00, from a place with the same distance of his school.

Then Mr. Shoeb visited the centre again on September 7, 2006 to collect the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam result sheet for his elder sister Ms. Nasrin Jahan, who appeared the exam from Netrokona Government Women’s in 2005. But Mr. Shoeb had to visit the centre in the following day due to prevailing load shedding. On September 8, 2006, Mr. Shoeb re-visited the centre and got hold of her sister’s result sheet within 40 minutes by spending BDT 20.00. It would cost his sister BDT 50.00 by spending 3 hours minimum to get the same result sheet from her college in the town. Thus Mr. Shoeb saved BDT 30.00 and 2 hours 20 minutes.
Both Mr. Shoeb and Ms. Nasrin Jahan were satisfied with their received services from the Pallitathya Kendra.
Mr. Shoeb thinks that load shedding is a major obstacle to get internet connection in the centre. He feels that if the nationwide held exam results can be learnt from the students’ residences, then that will definitely benefit the local students most.

Mr. Ijjat Ali Fakir is a farmer making a living for his 8-member family with a monthly family income of BDT 6,500.00 on average. Besides producing rice, he cultivates fruits and vegetables too.
One day, he found his mango tree getting affected by harmful insects. He became worried. Because he makes his living by selling his produces. So he sought help to his neighbors, who advised him to consult with local Block Supervisor, a field level government agricultural officer. Then Mr. Ijjat Ali tried his best to get hold of the desired officer, but failed.
In the meantime, Mr. Ijjat Ali approached by an infomediary of the local Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre), from whom he learnt about the availability of agricultural information from that place. Then he decided to pay a visit to the centre as early as possible. Thus he visited the centre on October 10, 2006 and had the opportunity to meet with his desired Block Supervisor there. The officer advised him to apply insecticide and praised about the effectiveness of the centre’s information service in absence of him.
Mr. Ali was successful to get rid of insects from his mango tree and got relieved from tremendous anxiety. Thus he started valuing the Pallitathya Kendra as a place for getting reliable and necessary livelihood information.
But he thinks that in absence of the agricultural field officer, farmers like him will be benefited more if the infomediaries of the centre provide their services in the affected areas/fields.

Mr. Shamsul Islam is a farmer who is trying to make a living for his 4-member family with monthly family income of BDT 5,000.00 on average.
One day, he found that insects were eating up his brinjal plants. He became worried because he makes a living by selling his agricultural produces to nearby rural market place. He talked to his neighbors about the problem and they advised him to visit the nearby agricultural office in the town, which is approximately 8 kilometres from his home and could cost BDT 60.00 for a round trip. He started looking for informational help.
Then he was approached by the infomediaries from the local Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre) and became aware of its’ various services. Thus he paid a visit to the centre, one and a half kilometre away from his home, on September 18, 2006 and received verbal information free of cost from the CD Content.
He applied the advice accordingly and got benefited within short time. Since then he started trusting the effectiveness of the Pallitathya Kendra for its agricultural information service. However, he thinks that farmers like him will be more benefited if they receive such service in their respective field.

Ms. Jomila is living with her 3 sons and a daughter on the received remittances from her son in Dubai, Abu Dhabi with a slim monthly family income of BDT 4,000.00 on average.
One day, she experienced a severe pain in her body. She did not know what to do. Her neighbors advised her to visit the rural physician who can cost her BDT 20.00 per visit. But she did not have enough money at that time. In the mean time, she was approached by the infomediaries from the local Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre), who advised her to get help from the place to save time and money.
Thus she paid a visit on October 4, 2006 to the Pallitathya Kendra and received information service through instant mobile phone-to-mobile phone over the Help Line from an expert at Dhaka-based Help Desk. She spent BDT 14.00 only for the received service.
Ms. Jomila bought the prescribed medicine without any delay and got rid of her suffering within a short time. But she was not able to complete her doses due to lack of money.
She is very satisfied with the received service. Although both the rural physician and the centre are quarter kilometre away from her home, the centre service saved her BDT 6.00, which is a substantial amount for a poor rural women like her.
She thinks that the local elderly women will be benefited a lot if the infomediaries visit their homes to deliver services.

Mr. Majibur Rahman Fakir is the son of late Mr. Fazar Ali. He is making an honest living for his 8-member family with a monthly family income of BDT 5,000.00 on average.
In 2006, one of his close relatives was seriously injured in a clash with the hired goons of a local influential person. Then the injured relative was taken to the government hospital for treatment. In the mean time, a case was filed and the government doctor’s medical certificate was needed to place it in the court. But the same influential person intimidated the hospital authority not to issue the medical certificate by the doctor in a move to obstruct the effort of the victim to get justice.
Then Mr. Majibur Rahman Fakir and the victim became mentally depressed and asked the villagers about their next step at that moment. They advised to pay a visit to Pallitathya Kendra. In the mean time, Mr. Majibur was approached by the infomediary of the local Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre) who advised him to take the information service from the centre through the Help Line. Thus Mr. Majibur visited the centre, which is only one and a half kilometre away from his home and received the desired service through mobile phone-to-mobile phone ICT channel by spending BDT 22.00.
Mr. Majibur was advised to take the required medical certificate of the same doctor who also practices in a local private clinic in the town. This key information dramatically helped Mr. Majibur and his victimized relative to get rid of their tremendous mental pressure which sustained for more than 6 months. They would have to spend at least BDT 40.00 to collect the similar advice from the town, which is 5 kilometres away from Mr. Majibur’s home.
Mr. Majibur did not waste any time in taking the certificate from the designated private clinic of the same doctor under whose supervision his relative was hospitalized.
In fact, there was no one at that moment to assist either poor Mr. Majibur or his victimized relative’s side except the Help Line service of Pallitathya Kendra.
Mr. Majibur is completely satisfied with the received service from the centre. Moreover, he is very thankful to the Help Line in receiving the key information timely.

Ms. Mukul is the wife of Mr. Nazim Uddin and daughter of Mr. Rumali and late Ms. Jomila. She is working as being the homemaker of her 6-member family that has BDT 4,000.00 as average monthly family income.
Her daughter Ms. Rabeya Akhtar Koli appeared in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam in 2005 from the local Charpara Mahadevpur High School. Ms. Mukul was very anxious about her daughter’s exam result. Then the day came and she heard that the concerned authority has published the result. But she did not know about any place other than the respective school to deliver the desired information. When she attempted to collect the result secretly, thinking that a failure in the exam can have negative influence on the surroundings of Ms. Rabeya, she gave effort to learn about any sources providing the desired service in the area other than the school. Then she learnt from her neighbors about the local Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre), from where the result than can be received using computer. Ms. Mukul was not aware of internet till then.
Due to load of her tasks, Ms. Mukul could not have time to visit the centre timely. So she visited the centre, one and a half kilometre away from her home and collected the desired information in June 26, 2006. The infomediaries helped her get it by browsing the internet. She had to spend BDT 10.00 only. Both Ms. Mukul and Ms. Rabeya got surprised to receive their desired information so quickly in such a nominal amount in their own union.
The designated school usually takes more than a week to deliver the same information with a charge of BDT 25.00. Moreover, the school is two and half kilometre away from her home. Both Ms. Mukul and her daughter Ms. Rabeya are happy about the received information from the centre that has also saved their time and money. But they prefer to receive the service at their home.

Mr. Jalal Khan is the son of late Mr. Suruj Khan and Ms. Lal Banu. He is a poor farmer working hard to make a living for his 4-member family with a monthly family income of BDT 3,000.00 on average.
He has some land property which has been kept pre-occupied by other people for years and occupiers refused to let him give the ownership title of his land. He got shocked and started discussing with his neighbors to find a solution. They advised him to get the advice from a reliable lawyer. But later he found out that it would cost him a lot of money, which he would not be able to spend.
Then one day, he was approached by an infomediary of Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre) and learnt about the available legal information services though different ICT channels which is only one and half kilometre away from his home. Thus he paid several visits to the centre before and after July 12, 2006 to receive information from the Content and through the Help Line by mobile phone-to-mobile phone service. He spent BDT 500.00 so far for receiving the services from the centre.
If Mr. Jalal had to go to the town to get similar help from a lawyer, he would have to pay BDT 5,000.00, at least for the legal fees and BDT 40.00 as transportation cost for a round trip which is five and half kilometre away from his home.
The received legal information from the Help Desk assisted him to file a case against the people who are kept occupying his land by force. The case is still on and the case itself made him become confident of himself. Because earlier, he used to think that there is none for him since he is a poor citizen.
So far, Mr. Jalal is not only happy for the received services from the centre, but he is also very thankful to the centre authority. But he prefers to receive the Help Line services from his home.

Ms. Mukul Begam is the wife of late Mr. Mansub Ali. She is looking after of her 4-member family with a monthly family income of BDT 3,000.00 on average.
She learnt about the local Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre) through some promotional items. In addition, she was also approached by the infomediaries of the centre. Thus she learnt about the available agricultural information services provided from the centre through various ICT channels.
Then she planned to plant jackfruit tree in her yard. But she did not know how to cultivate this fruit and from where to get the necessary agricultural inputs. But the need and strong curiosity made her paid a visit to the centre on September 21, 2006 to receive the desired information from Jeeon CD Content installed in the centre’s computers.
Although she did not have the opportunity to cultivate jackfruit in this season, but she made a plan to go for it in the upcoming season. But she is still happy the way she has received the service from the centre without paying any money. But she prefers to receive the service from her home.

Mr. Diponkar Roy is the son of Mr. Nirmol Roy and Ms. Iti Roy. He is making a living of his 8-member family with a monthly family income of BDT 25,000.00 on average.
For the last 2 years, he was trying his best to find the accurate information regarding the list of Bangla and English medium schools of Darjeeling, India. But he failed to get the desired information even from the town.
While he was anxious to get the information, one day one of his friend who is an infomediary of the local Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre), located at nearby Rouha union, advised him to receive his desired information from the centre’s Help Line. Thus Mr. Dipankar came to the centre, which is eight kilometres away from his home, on November 2, 2006 to collect his key information from the Help Line through mobile phone-to-letter information service mode.
Mr. Dipankar was surprised to receive the information by spending only BDT 26.00 whereas the information collection expenses from Dhaka could cost him approximately BDT 1,000.00 with a distance of 135 kilometres.
Mr. Dipankar is very happy about the particular received service and attitude of the infomediaries of the centre. But he thinks that it would be better if he would receive the information by mail and if it were available in the town too.

Ms. Lovely is the daughter of Mr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin and Ms. Sokina. Her 5-member family has a monthly family income of BDT 4,000.00 on average.
Ms. Lovely appeared in the nationwide held Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) from her college located in Netrokona town in 2005. 
She was very anxious about her exam result. When the concerned authority published the result in the internet, she got more anxious to receive it. But she wanted to save her parents’ money and time too in collecting the information. At that point, she learnt about the internet browsing service of Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre) from one of her neighbors which is only one and half kilometres away from her home. She was very curious and could not believe that she might be able to receive the service from her own rural community.
Finally she paid a visit to the centre on October 5, 2006 and got hold of her desired information through browsing the internet. She spent only BDT 10.00 to get her result. And she spent BDT 20.00 for the rickshaw fares.
If she would collect the same information from her college in town, she would have to spend a total of BDT 60.00 which is five and half kilometres away from her home. Thus the received service from the centre both saved her money and time. Therefore, Ms. Lovely was very thankful about the received service.

Ms. Salema is the wife of Mr. Shahor Ali and daughter of Mr. Shamser Ali and Ms. Jomila Khatun. She is looking after her 3-member family with a monthly family income of BDT 4,000.00 on average.
One day, she found that her brinjal field is affected by harmful insects. Her family got worried because sales from the brinjals is one the income sources of her family. She got worried and asked her neighbors for advice who told her to knock the door of local agricultural office, located eight kilometres away from her home. Beside the distance, it cost BDT 60.00 to make the travel to collect her required information. But she has some financial constraint and started looking for other local information sources.
During that period, one day Ms. Salema was approached by the infomediaries of the local Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre). The centre is only half a kilometre away from her home. She learnt about the providing services of the centre getting delivered through different ICT channels. This finding helped her got rid of anxiety and she did not waste any time to visit the centre on October 5, 2006 and received the information from Jeeon Content without any cost.
Then Ms. Salema applied the received information and got rid of the insects in due time. Thus the key information contributed on her livelihood.
She is completely satisfied with the received service from the centre. But she thinks that if the infomediaries visit the affected fields of the information seekers and deliver the necessary information at the door step they would be more benefited.

Ms. Firoza Begam is the wife of Mr. Monnan. She is looking after her 6-member family as a homemaker with a monthly family income of BDT 3,000.00 on average.
She was approached by the infomediaries of the local Pallitathya Kendra (the Rural Information Centre) with its different information services based on different modern ICT channels which is only half a kilometre away from her home. In the mean time, Her five year old son Babu became sick with jaundice.
Then she sought advice from her neighbors who have her several options to choose. She was advised about the rural physician who charges a slim fee of BDT 20.00 who is also half a kilometre away from her home. But the community people usually rely on him for general illnesses. She had another option to visit the local MBBS doctor in the town, who takes BDT 300.00 as a service charge per visit with a distant of eight kilometres from her home and the transportation expenses cost BDT 60.00. She had another option to visit the local hospital with a cost of BDT 5.00 as a service charge and transportation expense of BDT 70.00.
With these options open to her, Ms. Firoza preferred to receive the information service from the centre due to its usage of modern ICT channels. Finally she decided to visit the centre for his son’s disease. Thus she came to the centre on September 20, 2006 and received information service through the Help Line by using the mobile phone-to-mobile phone instant service mode and spent BDT 26.00 and rushed to the dispensary to buy advised medicines for Babu.
Gradually Ms. Firoza’s son got cured from jaundice. She was very happy about the received service. But she thinks that if she would receive the service from her home, it would be much better.