Ict In Rural Development: An Overview

The 21st century is the age of Information and Communication Technology and ICT plays a vital role in political, economic and socio-cultural development of a country. ICt is of immense significance in our lives. It has become a powerful tool towards empowering rural masses by way of access to information related to education, banking, employment, agriculture, governmental resources and services. However, there are certain sections of society which are deprived of its usage. This has led to what is called 'digital divide'. There have been attempts across countries to reduce this digital divide and make the marginalized sections, especially the rural masses, have access to ICT.
In addition to providing opportunities to rural masses, ICT also faces some challenges in its implementation. These challenges are difficult yet manageable. In view of the opportunities and challenges mentioned, ther is a need for interaction between the private and the public sectors to optimally utilize their respective expertise and abilities in the area of rural development.
About Author :
Sukhvinder Kaur Multani holds an M.Phil in Political Science from Hyderabad Central University. She is currently working as Consulting Editor at Centre for Business Research, Icfai Business School, Bangalore. Prior to this, she worked for Academic Wing of Icfai University as faculty member where she was involved in designing syllabus and courseware for graduate, postgraduate and law courses. She has several years of teaching and research experience to her credit. Her areas of interest include foreign policy studies, international relations, defence and strategies studies, women studies and media.
Contents :
Overview
Section I
OVERVIEW
ICT and Rural Developemnt in India
ICT for Rural Community Development
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Sustainable Development
The Role of e-Panchayats
Developing IT Networks in Rural India
Communication and Information Technology in Literacy for Rural Development
Rural Entrepreneur Developemnt Programme in Informaiton and Communication Technology
Effect of Mobile Telephony on Empowering Rural Communities in Developing Countries
Section II
COUNTRY EXPERIENCES
Warana: The Case of an Indian Rurual Community Adopting ICT
Select Success Stories on Agricultural Information System
The Diffusion of the Internet and Rural Development
Bridging Digital Divide in Marginalized Areas: A Focus on IT Policy, Planning and Implementation Issues in Malaysia
Wiring Sub-Saharan Africa for Development
Rural Schools as Regional Centres of e-learning and the Management of Digital Knowledge: The Case of Newfoundland and Labrador
Impact of the Insertion of Modern Information and Communication Technologies in Brazilian Rural Communities
Index