The document discusses the role of information technology in rural development in India. It begins by stating that poverty will be measured by lack of information and that IT can be used to offer development solutions in rural areas. It then discusses concepts like a harmonious society and inoculating IT in rural communities. Some key points are that IT can enhance rural livelihoods and generate employment through services and value chains. Case studies are presented showing how technologies like Village Knowledge Centers, e-Sagu for farmers, and community radio have helped bridge information gaps and empower rural communities in India. The conclusion is that IT can provide many services to rural households and partnerships are needed between organizations to realize development through livelihood opportunities.

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INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT
Kaushik Patidar

2. CONTENTS
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Introduction
A notion of harmonious society
Inoculation of IT in rural areas
IT, Economics and Development
Characteristics
Issues and Conceptual Framework
Value Chain for IT-Based Services
ODL Technologies
Case Studies
Conclusion
References

3. INTRODUCTION
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Poverty line will no longer be measured in
terms of money, but in terms of information
Encourage people to utilize IT in their
socioeconomic and cultural development in a
better and more sophisticated way
To offer development ideas and solutions to
the people who are deprived of basic
facilities, at their village doorsteps

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A NOTION OF HARMONIOUS
SOCIETY
Figure: A harmonious society

5. INOCULATION OF IT
IN RURAL AREAS
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IT, ECONOMICS AND
DEVELOPMENT

7. CHARACTERISTICS
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Availability
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Personification
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Shareability
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Feasibility
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Universality
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Diverse techniques of dissemination of information

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RURAL IT: ISSUES AND
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEW
ORK
Figure Rural Household Economic Decisions

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VALUE CHAIN FOR IT-BASED
SERVICES
Figure Value Chain for IT-Based Services

10. ODL TECHNOLOGIES FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF
LIVELIHOODS
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Imparting education, skill development,
awareness building among the people through
formal education system is practically difficult
To create a learning environment suitable to
the target learners utilising appropriate
Information and Communication Technologies
ODL provide content, methods, language,
physical access, literacy, course development
and technology adoption

11. CASE STUDIES
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12. e-Sagu
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Figure Operational Model of e-Sagu

13. BENEFITS
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It provides a quality personalized agro-advice
to the farmers and averts problematic
situations.
It enables farmers to cultivate with the same
efficiency as agricultural experts
It enhances rural livelihoods and generates
rural employment
It provides strong database to support
decision making and documents success
stories and new problems

14. LIABILITIES
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The problems are:
 Dependency of farmers on coordinators
 Exploitation of farmers by the coordinators
 No direct interface for farmers to learn new
technologies

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VILLAGE KNOW
LEDGE
CENTRES (VKC)
Figure Concept of the Village Knowledge Centres

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COMMUNITY RADIO FOR THE
RURAL W
OMEN DEVELOPMENT
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Community Radio was set up in Machanur in
Andhra Pradesh by Deccan Development Society
a NGO with the help of UNESCO
Benefits
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It bridges the information gap
It is the by-product of participatory process of
consultation, reflections, and discussions
It becomes a part of wide ranging activities with
in the ‘sangham’ (rural women self-help groups)
community.
It is a kind of communication tool for negotiation
with the outside world for the people, who are not

18. CONCLUSION
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IT has suggested that there is a broad range
of services that can be provided to a crosssection of rural households, even at relatively
low levels of income
The case studies of Rural India reflect on the
need, scope and necessity of partnership of
organisations in realising the development of
livelihoods
The need for intervention of concerned
Governments, national and international
bodies like UNO etc.

19. REFERENCES
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Nirvikar Singh, Information Technology and Rural
Development in India , University of California,
Santa Cruz, USA
Kris hna Re d d y , P. , A novel framework of
information technology-based agricultural
information dissemination system to improve crop
productivity.
Rita Sha rm a , Reforms in Agricultural extension:
New policy framework. Econ. Political Wkly, 27
July 2002, pp. 3124–3131.
Kra m e r, J. , N ro nha , S. and Ve rg o , J. , A usero
centred design approach to personalization.
Commun. ACM, 2000, 43.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, 2002,

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ThankYou