Information Technology and Village Life Presented by Naveen Kumar Singh

Introduction ICT has good potential role in development of rural areas For the purpose of assessing this,two rural locations in two south Indian states-Kuppam (A.P) and Malappuram(Kerala) taken as study subjects For success of ICT intervention in rural areas, a conducive atmosphere required through land reforms, rural credit, rural infrastructure and primary education

ICT has good potential role in development of rural areas

For the purpose of assessing this,two rural locations in two south Indian states-Kuppam (A.P) and Malappuram(Kerala) taken as study subjects

For success of ICT intervention in rural areas, a conducive atmosphere required through land reforms, rural credit, rural infrastructure and primary education

Indian development-a paradoxical situation The phenomenal growth of ICT industries in some Indian cities; spectre of poverty looms large simultaneously A classic example is the state Andhra Pradesh Even as IT industry in the state made headlines,rural parts reeling under unprecedented distress marked by starvation deaths,distress migration of landless labourers and farmer suicides

The phenomenal growth of ICT industries in some Indian cities; spectre of poverty looms large simultaneously

A classic example is the state Andhra Pradesh

Even as IT industry in the state made headlines,rural parts reeling under unprecedented distress marked by starvation deaths,distress migration of landless labourers and farmer suicides

ICT for rural development: Potential Great optimism about ICT as a medium of addressing the problem of underdevelopment and poverty Hope that ICTs and biotechnology will lead to healthier lives , greater social freedoms, increased knowledge and more productive livelihoods(UNDP,2001) The real potential of ICT as a tool in revolutionising the means for transformation of information and communication of knowledge

Great optimism about ICT as a medium of addressing the problem of underdevelopment and poverty

Hope that ICTs and biotechnology will lead to healthier lives , greater social freedoms, increased knowledge and more productive livelihoods(UNDP,2001)

The real potential of ICT as a tool in revolutionising the means for transformation of information and communication of knowledge

Cont…. Information helpful in process of development in myriad ways Information about markets and technology helpful to poor households in rural areas Mobile phones and internet may be powerful tools of empowerment of the rural poor through the easy access to information ICTs can be instruments of participation for the excluded sections of society ICT also have great use in providing healthcare and education Also helpful in facilitating efficient governance and state intervention particularly local bodies

Information helpful in process of development in myriad ways

Information about markets and technology helpful to poor households in rural areas

Mobile phones and internet may be powerful tools of empowerment of the rural poor through the easy access to information

ICTs can be instruments of participation for the excluded sections of society

ICT also have great use in providing healthcare and education

Also helpful in facilitating efficient governance and state intervention particularly local bodies

Challenges Grave concern over the rural people capabilities in using the new technologies and in using the information procured by it Pathetic rural infrastructure including deficient telecommunication networks, low penetration of personal computers and poor internet connectivity. In India , per 1000 people, only 50 telephone lines(March,2003),only 0.38 Internet subscribers(September,2002) Cost of telephone or internet connection in India as a share of household income considerably higher than those of Countries like South Korea and China

Grave concern over the rural people capabilities in using the new technologies and in using the information procured by it

Pathetic rural infrastructure including deficient telecommunication networks, low penetration of personal computers and poor internet connectivity.

In India , per 1000 people, only 50 telephone lines(March,2003),only 0.38 Internet subscribers(September,2002)

Cost of telephone or internet connection in India as a share of household income considerably higher than those of Countries like South Korea and China

Telecom reforms in India from 1990s though bringing impressive gains to telecom infrastructure ,rural areas by and large did not much extension in telecom connectivity. A regressive social structure in place,ICT likely to aggravate social inequalities and divide High levels of illiteracy and forms of social exclusion based on caste a major blockade against impact of ICT

Telecom reforms in India from 1990s though bringing impressive gains to telecom infrastructure ,rural areas by and large did not much extension in telecom connectivity.

A regressive social structure in place,ICT likely to aggravate social inequalities and divide

High levels of illiteracy and forms of social exclusion based on caste a major blockade against impact of ICT

ICT and development : the experiences in A.P. and Kerala Locations of field study(July/August) on the topic: Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh and Malappuram in Kerala A number of ICT experiments to better the life of marginalised sections going on in India Some examples: the use of personal digital assistants by health workers in Rajasthan; imparting functional literacy among working adults in some 80 locations in A.P.,hlping farmers and fishermen communities in some villages in Pondicherry ;providing sugarcane prices through it network to farmers in Warana region in Maharashtra, Gyandoot e- governanace project in M.P. and the TARAhaat and Drishtee rural IT projects in Punjab and Haryana

Locations of field study(July/August) on the topic: Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh and Malappuram in Kerala

A number of ICT experiments to better the life of marginalised sections going on in India

Some examples: the use of personal digital assistants by health workers in Rajasthan; imparting functional literacy among working adults in some 80 locations in A.P.,hlping farmers and fishermen communities in some villages in Pondicherry ;providing sugarcane prices through it network to farmers in Warana region in Maharashtra, Gyandoot e- governanace project in M.P. and the TARAhaat and Drishtee rural IT projects in Punjab and Haryana

i-community project in AP In April 2002,the Andhra Pradesh govt. and HP jointly launched a programme for an ‘inclusive community’(i- community) to ensure widespread members participation in economic growth in Kuppam. The key feature of this project-a network of community information centres operated by local entrepreneurs who receive financial and technical assistance from state govt., HP and World Crops India (An NGO) Aim of the project: creating several development opportunities in Kuppam

In April 2002,the Andhra Pradesh govt. and HP jointly launched a programme for an ‘inclusive community’(i- community) to ensure widespread members participation in economic growth in Kuppam.

The key feature of this project-a network of community information centres operated by local entrepreneurs who receive financial and technical assistance from state govt., HP and World Crops India (An NGO)

Aim of the project: creating several development opportunities in Kuppam

Akshaya Project in Kerala Launched by the state govt. in November 2002 in Malappuram Main feature: a network of information centres operated by local entrepreneurs with assistance from local self governing bodies Aim: to impart IT literacy to at least one member of each HH in Malappuram and to meet information and communication needs of the region Impact of project : In August 2003 the village of Chamravottom in the district Malppuram became the first fully e-literate village in India

Launched by the state govt. in November 2002 in Malappuram

Main feature: a network of information centres operated by local entrepreneurs with assistance from local self governing bodies

Aim: to impart IT literacy to at least one member of each HH in Malappuram and to meet information and communication needs of the region

Impact of project : In August 2003 the village of Chamravottom in the district Malppuram became the first fully e-literate village in India

Great growth of IT industry in AP The state capital Hyderabad-hub of several It firms and public and private sector research centres AP sends every year large no of software professionals to the USA Software professionals from AP account for 23% of all Indian professionals in USA in 1998. According to government , IT and ITES grew by over 80 pc rate in AP during the period from 1999 to 2002. Kerala in contrast in 2005 fell far behind in ICT industry growth. In 2000/2001,software exports through STPs Rs.1.4 b (0.7% of the STPs exports in India)in Kerala compared to Rs.20.17 b(10.06% of te total in India)in Andhra Pradesh

The state capital Hyderabad-hub of several It firms and public and private sector research centres

AP sends every year large no of software professionals to the USA

Software professionals from AP account for 23% of all Indian professionals in USA in 1998.

According to government , IT and ITES grew by over 80 pc rate in AP during the period from 1999 to 2002.

Kerala in contrast in 2005 fell far behind in ICT industry growth.

In 2000/2001,software exports through STPs Rs.1.4 b (0.7% of the STPs exports in India)in Kerala compared to Rs.20.17 b(10.06% of te total in India)in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra and Kerala –A study in constrast Indicator AndhraPradesh Kerala India Area(thousand sq.km) 275 39 3288 Population,2001(millions) 76 32 1027 Life expectancy at birth , males(1993-97)years 61.2 70.4 60.4 Literacy rate,age7+,females,2001(96) 51 88 54 Ave HH expe. per capita,1999-2000(Rs/month) 541 810 589 Pr capita state domestic product growth(%per year) 3.5 5.1 4 1990-91 to 1998-99 Poverty index :head count ratio(%),1993-94 26 18 29 Telephones(per 1000 people),rural,2003 20.3 78.5 14.9 No of institutions for higher education,1993-94 850 234 9003 9003 No. of engineering colleges 36 9 323

Indicator AndhraPradesh Kerala India

Area(thousand sq.km) 275 39 3288

Population,2001(millions) 76 32 1027

Life expectancy at birth , males(1993-97)years 61.2 70.4 60.4

Literacy rate,age7+,females,2001(96) 51 88 54

Ave HH expe. per capita,1999-2000(Rs/month) 541 810 589

Pr capita state domestic product growth(%per year) 3.5 5.1 4

1990-91 to 1998-99

Poverty index :head count ratio(%),1993-94 26 18 29

Telephones(per 1000 people),rural,2003 20.3 78.5 14.9

No of institutions for higher education,1993-94 850 234 9003 9003

No. of engineering colleges 36 9 323

A comparative study of IT projects in Kuppam and Malappuram Kuppam(i- community ) Malappuram(akshay) At present 13 CICs 582 Akshay centres Covers only parts Covers entire district of the district In the initial stage In the initial stage Started in 2002 Started in 2002

Kuppam(i- community ) Malappuram(akshay)

At present 13 CICs 582 Akshay centres

Covers only parts Covers entire district

of the district

In the initial stage In the initial stage

Started in 2002 Started in 2002

Diffusion of ICT in rural areas Indicators Kuppam Malappuram number % share number % share of total of total HHs with at least one 28 62.2 45 100.00 member heard of computers HH with at least one 18 40.0 41 91.1 Person heard of inf. centre HH with at least one aware 10 22.2 32 71.1 Person of services HH with at least one person 8 17.8 29 64.4 Having used info .services Total no. of surveyed HH 45 100 45 100.00

Indicators Kuppam Malappuram

number % share number % share

of total of total

HHs with at least one 28 62.2 45 100.00

member heard of

computers

HH with at least one 18 40.0 41 91.1

Person heard of inf.

centre

HH with at least one aware 10 22.2 32 71.1

Person of services

HH with at least one person 8 17.8 29 64.4

Having used info .services

Total no. of surveyed HH 45 100 45 100.00

Penetration of computers and media technologies,Kuppam,malappurram,2004 Type of person Kuppam Malappuram number %share number % share of total of total Persons reading newspapers 76 38.8 181 81.5 Persons watching TV 148 75.5 159 71.6 Persons listening to radio 103 52.6 165 74.3 Persons operating a telephone 94 48.0 187 84.2 Persons operating computers 15 7.7 67 30.2 Total no . of persons above seven 196 100 222 100

Type of person Kuppam Malappuram

number %share number % share

of total of total

Persons reading newspapers 76 38.8 181 81.5

Persons watching TV 148 75.5 159 71.6

Persons listening to radio 103 52.6 165 74.3

Persons operating a telephone 94 48.0 187 84.2

Persons operating computers 15 7.7 67 30.2

Total no . of persons above seven 196 100 222 100

Literacy and knowledge of computers,Kuppam,2004 Computers Information centre 1.HHs with more than one person heard about 28 18 2.Of which proportion of literates among 19 14 total HH members is more than 50% 2 as per cent share of 1 67.9 77.8 3.HHs with none heard about computers 17 27 4.Of which proportion of literates among total HH members is less than or equal to 50% 15 16 4 as per cent share of 3 88.2 59.3 source: Author survey data ,July/Aug,2004 (surveyed households=45)

Computers Information centre

1.HHs with more than one person heard about 28 18

2.Of which proportion of literates among 19 14

total HH members is more than 50%

2 as per cent share of 1 67.9 77.8

3.HHs with none heard about computers 17 27

4.Of which proportion of literates among total HH

members is less than or equal to 50% 15 16

4 as per cent share of 3 88.2 59.3

source: Author survey data ,July/Aug,2004

(surveyed households=45)

Diffusion of computers and socio economic characteristics of households Type of surveyed HHs Ave. no. of persons attending Ave . landholding size educational institution (In acres) Kuppam HHs with nobody heard of 0.47 0.67 computers HHs with one or more heard of 1.07 1.93 Computers Malappuram HHs with no one Operating computers 0.73 0.25 HHs with one or more members 1.62 0.78 Operating computer

Type of surveyed HHs Ave. no. of persons attending Ave . landholding size

educational institution (In acres)

Kuppam

HHs with nobody heard of 0.47 0.67

computers

HHs with one or more heard of 1.07 1.93

Computers

Malappuram

HHs with no one

Operating computers 0.73 0.25

HHs with one or more members 1.62 0.78

Operating computer

Demand for programmes in e-governance Evidence from the study suggests programmes for computerisation for government-people interaction will have less demand in rural areas than in urban areas Demand for potential use of information relates to differences in socio-economic structures Demand for e-governance concerned with reduction in time and transaction costs

Evidence from the study suggests programmes

for computerisation for government-people interaction will have less demand in rural areas than in urban areas

Demand for potential use of information relates to differences

in socio-economic structures

Demand for e-governance concerned with reduction in time and transaction costs

Inferences The study conducted in two districts of AP and Kerala bring to light some interesting facts People’s capabilities to use technologies are associated with existing level of socio-economic development. For landless laborers providing access to market prices through ICT is of no use While ICTs offer great possibilities , they represent no panacea to development ICTs can offer little help in if basic problems like unequal distribution of assets and literacy persists Before introducing ICTs in rural areas basic background should be prepared by putting in place physical infrastructure as well as ensure state intervention for equal growth and distribution including land reforms and public investment in health and basic education

The study conducted in two districts of AP and Kerala bring to light some interesting facts

People’s capabilities to use technologies are associated with existing level of socio-economic development.

For landless laborers providing access to market prices through ICT is of no use

While ICTs offer great possibilities , they represent no panacea to development

ICTs can offer little help in if basic problems like unequal distribution of assets and literacy persists

Before introducing ICTs in rural areas basic background should be prepared by putting in place physical infrastructure as well as ensure state intervention for equal growth and distribution including land reforms and public investment in health and basic education