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Subhajit BasuSchool of Law
Queen’s University Belfast
Digital InclusionICT for Rural India
Part 1
Objective of Development
‘a process of expanding the real freedoms that people enjoy’
Amartya Sen (2000)Nobel Laureate in Economics
3
Development
Development requires removal of sources of disparity:• Income and non-income (capability) poverty• Tyranny and intolerance• Poor economic opportunities and social
deprivation
Development
Removal of Disparity depends on:• Social and economic arrangements• Political and civil rights• Technological progress • Social modernisation
Technology in Development
Is Technology Related to Affluence?
Can Technology Foster Development?
Technology and Society
Can technology realistically help bridge social divides?
ICT in Development
ICT in Development
Can ICT bridge social divides?
Part 2
IndiaPossible, Probable and Preferable
Future
India•Population --1,080,264,388 (around 70% lives in rural area)• Area -- 3,287,590 sq km (more than 600,000+ villages)• Political subdivisions-- 28 states,7 union territories• Literacy--55.2 %• Per-capita income-- 0.4 $ per day
India
Can technology make any difference to these people?
Can they afford these technologies?
India: Problem Associated with ICT Projects
If we follow the US-EU Model Only 2-3 % of Indian Population
will be able to have access to Internet
Intermittent, inconsistent electrical power
e-choupal kiosk in Kodia, Madhya Pradesh
Problem Associated with ICT Projects
VSAT for kiosk in Kodia, Madhya Pradesh n-Logue corDECT wireless tower
•Scarce and unreliable telephone system•Unreliable Internet connectivity
Problem Associated with ICT Projects
Locally relevant content
Problem Associated with ICT Projects
India: ICT Project Examples
Name of the Project
Purpose Future planes
Akshaya Making a district E-literate, limited employment generation.
Delivery of multiple service at Akshaya centers and expand it to other districts
Bhoomi Issue of Land title at 177 Bhoomi kiosks and through privately owned kiosks
Expand rural kiosk network
Drishtee Creating a network of privately owned kiosks for e access to info, government and service commercial
Expand Network to cover new kiosk
E-choupal The prime target is farmer. Farmers get information about seeds’ price, etc
Scale to more users
N-Logue Multipurpose Internet kiosks based on WILL
Expand for commercial utilization
Gyandoot Connecting rural cyber café catering the everyday needs of the masses.
Extend for global Internet
Example: n-Logue
Services:
Communication
Education
Computer Education
Remote tutorial
Typing
Photography
Agriculture
Veterinary
Health Care
Example: n-Logue Services:
Communication
Education
Computer Education
Remote tutorial
Typing
Photography
Agriculture
Veterinary
Health Care
Teaching computer, distance education
Rural Education - Pilot ICT in Rural Districts of Pune
ICT in Development
Mobile Computer Labs
21
Devices for enabling easy input in Indian languages.
Source; Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Example: n-Logue Services:
Communication
Education
Computer Education
Remote tutorial
Typing
Photography
Agriculture
Veterinary
Health Care
Weather forecasting, Disease detection, soil analysis
Example: n-Logue Services:
Communication
Education
Computer Education
Remote tutorial
Typing
Photography
Agriculture
Veterinary
Health Care
Consulting with doctors in city by sending online images of the animal
Services: Communication
Education
Computer Education
Remote tutorial
Typing
Photography
Agriculture
Veterinary
Health Care
Remote diagnostic tools, Consulting with doctors in city
n-Logue: Tele-Medicine - Remote Eye Care
A tractor and cart in Madhya Pradesh
A well-water hand-pump
Teachers in Karnataka
In the hands of imaginative and inspired
individuals and and communities communities Technology
can change Lives
Conclusion: Is a PC the best way to spend $1200 in a poor village?
Mid day Meals in School
References
Paul, J. (2004) What works: n-Logue’s rural connectivity model. World Resources Institute. http://www.digitaldividend.org/pdf/nlogue.pdf
n-logue website:
http://www.n-logue.com/services.htm Different Websites
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