‘Rural Informatics’: Use of Information and Communication Technologies for the Rural Poor – From Digital Divide to Digital Opportunity in Rural India

Abstract

ICT has great potential to bring in the desired social transformations by enhancing access to people, services, information and other technologies. ICT applications can enhance poor people’s opportunities by improving their access to markets, health and education. India is striving to come up with innovative ICT support for the rural community. Creation of affordable ICT facilities and investment in training to maintain and expand computer networks in rural areas is on policy agenda of the government. However, incorporation of ICT in a national development agenda must involve public and private sector together with the local community for effective creation, expansion and diffusion of ICT applications and also for better e-governance. This article is an attempt to analyse the ICT policy for the rural poor people in India and discuss evolving an integrated approach for participatory rural development where the participation of the local community and an inclusion of a traditional knowledge system is taken into consideration.