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

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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