This article presents findings of two user perspective studies on the impact of ICTs in rural India. It is based on fieldwork conducted by the authors in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh and Madhubani district of Bihar. The first study examines the impact of a state-led ICT initiative. The second looks at the impact of an ICT initiative by a non-government organisation. The article identifies issues critical to enhancing the accessibility of ICT services to the poorest rural households. A comparison is made between the two models in reaching the ICT services to the rural poor.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adelman I. (2000), ‘Fifty Years of Economic Development: What Have We Learnt?’Paper presented at the Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics—Europe, Paris, 26–28 June.
2.
Baulch, R. and N. McCullock (2000), ‘Tracking Pro-poor Growth’, in ID21 Insights No. 31.Sussex: Institute of Development Studies .
3.
Bhagawati, J. (1971), ‘The Generalized Theory of Distortions and Welfare’, in J. Bhagawati , R.A. Mundell and J. Vanek , eds, Trade Balance of Payments and Growth:Essays in International Economics in Honour of Charles P. Kindleberger. Amsterdam: North Holland Publishing .
4.
Bourguignon, F. and C. Morrisson (1998), ‘ Inequality and Development: The Role of Dualism ’, Journal of Development Economics, 14(2), pp. 233–57 .
5.
Bowonder, B. and G. Boddu (2005), ‘ Internet Kiosks for Rural Communities: Using ICT Platforms for Reducing Digital Divide ’, International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 6(3–4), pp. 356–78 .
6.
Bowonder, B. , S. Sadhulla and A. Jain (2005), ‘ Evolving an ICT Platform for a Traditional Industry: Transforming Artisans into Entrepreneurs ’, International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 6(3–4), pp. 379–401 .
7.
Chapman, R. , T. Slaymaker and T. Young (2003), ‘Livelihoods Approaches to Information and Communication in Support of Rural Poverty Elimination and Food Security’. ODI-DFID-FAO ,http://www.odi.org.uk/rapid/publications/Documents/SPISSL_WP_Complete.pdf.
8.
Collier, P. (2007), The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can be Done About It. Oxford: Oxford University Press .
9.
Datt G. and M. Ravallion (2002), ‘Is India's Economic Growth Leaving the Poor Behind?’ Mimeograph, World Bank, Washington, DC .
10.
Dhar, B. (2007), ‘Agricultural Trade Protection: A Perspective from India’. ARTNet Policy Brief No. 11 , January.
11.
Duncombe, R. (2006), ‘ Using the Livelihoods Framework to Analyze ICT Applications for Poverty Reduction through Microenterprise ’, Information Technologies and Inter-national Development, 3(3), pp. 81–100 .
12.
Galloway, L. and R. Mochrie (2005), ‘ The Use of ICT in Rural Firms: A Policy-oriented Literature Review ’, Journal of Policy, Regulation and Strategy for Telecommunications, 7(3), pp. 33–46 .
13.
Gallup, J. , S. Radelet and A. Warner (1999), ‘Economic Growth and the Income of the Poor’. Consulting Assistance on Economic Reform II Discussion Paper 36, Harvard Institute of International Development, Harvard, MA .
14.
Gamage, P. and E.F. Halpin (2007), ‘ E-Sri Lanka: Bridging the Digital Divide ’, Electronic Library, 25(6), pp. 693–710 .
15.
Government of India (2001), Central Statistical Organisation, New Delhi .
16.
Hanna, N.K. (2008), Transforming Government and Empowering Communities. Washington, DC: World Bank .
17.
Hartviksen, G. , S. Akselsen and A.K. Eidsvik (2002), ‘ MICTS: Municipal ICT Schools—A Means for Bridging the Digital Divide Between Rural and Urban Communities ’, Education and Information Technologies, 7(2), pp. 93–109 .
18.
Heeks, R. (2002), ‘i-Development not e-Development: Special Issue on ICTs and Development.’ Journal of International Development, 14(1), pp. 1–11 .
19.
Hongladarom, S. (2004), ‘ Making Information Transparent as a Means to Close the Global Digital Divide ’, Minds and Machines, 14(1), pp. 85–99 .
20.
Huggins, R. and H. Izushi (2002), ‘ The Digital Divide and ICT Learning in Rural Com-munities Examples of Good Practice Service Delivery ’, Local Economy, 17(2), pp. 111–22 .
21.
Indjikian, R. and D.S. Siegel (2005), ‘ The Impact of Investment in IT on Economic Performance: Implications for Developing Countries ’, World Development, 33(5), 681–700 .
22.
Kakwani, N. and E. Pernia (2000), ‘ What is Pro-Poor Growth? ’ Asian Development Review, 18(1), pp. 1–16 .
23.
Krishna, K. , A. Mukhopadhya and C. Yavas (2002), ‘Trade with Labour Market Distortions and Heterogeneous Labour: Why Trade can Hurt’. NBER Working Paper No. 9086, Pennsylvania State University .
24.
Kumar, R. (2004), ‘ eChoupals: A Study on the Financial Sustainability of Village Internet Centers in Rural Madhya Pradesh ’, Information Technologies and International Development1(3), pp. 45–73 .
25.
Manning, R. (2007), ‘ Pro-poor Growth: Negotiating Consensus on a Contentious Issue ’, Development, 50(2), pp. 42–47 .
26.
Martin, L.M. , A. Halstead and J. Taylor (2001), ‘ Learning in Rural Communities: Fear of Information Communications Technology Leading to Lifelong Learning? ’ Research in Post-compulsory Education, 6 (3), pp. 261–76 .
27.
McNamara, K.S. (2003), ‘Information and Communication Technologies, Poverty and Development: Learning from Experience’. Background paper for the InfoDev Annual Symposium, 9–10 December, Geneva, Switzerland.
28.
Meera Shaik, N. , A. Jhamtani and D.U.M. Rao (2004), Network Paper No.135. London: ODI .
29.
Misra, P.K. (2006), ‘ E-strategies to Support Rural Education in India ’, Educational Media International, 43(2), pp. 273–83 .
30.
Narayanan, A. , A. Jain and B. Bowonder (2005), ‘ Providing Rural Connectivity Infrastructure: ICT Diffusion through Private Sector Participation ’, International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 6(3–4), pp. 416–36 .
31.
National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) (2004), West and Central India Human Development Report. New Delhi: Oxford University Press .
32.
Nikam, K. , A.C. Ganesh and M. Tamizhchelvan (2004), ‘ The Changing Face of India: Bridging the Digital Divide ’, Library Review, 53(4), pp. 213–19 .
33.
Papaioannou, S. and S. Dimelis (2007), ‘ Information Technology as a Factor of Economic Development: Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries ’, Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 6(3), pp. 179–94 .
34.
Paternostro, S. , A. Rajaram and E.R. Tiongson (2007), ‘ How Does the Composition of Public Spending Matter? ’ Oxford Development Studies, 35(1), pp. 47–82 .
35.
Ramirez, R. (2007), ‘ Appreciating the Contribution of Broadband ICT with Rural and Remote Communities: Stepping Stones Toward an Alternative Paradigm ’, The Information Society, 23(2), pp. 85–94 .
36.
Ravallion, M. (2004), ‘Pro-Poor Growth: A Primer’. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series No. 3242, World Bank, Washington, DC .
37.
Rhodes, J. (2002), ‘ The Development of an Integrated E-commerce Marketing Framework to Enhance Trading Activities for Rural African Communities ’, Perspective on Global Development and Technology, 1( 3–4), pp. 269–93 .
38.
Singh, N. (2002), ‘Information Technology as an Engine of Broad-based Growth in India’, in P. Banerjee and F.J. Ritcher , eds, The Information Economy in India. London: Palgrave Macmillan , pp. 24–57.
39.
Singh, N. (2004), ‘Information Technology and Rural Development in India’, in B. Debroy and A.U. Khan , Integrating the Rural Poor into Markets. New Delhi: Academic Foundation, pp . 221–46.
40.
Singh, N. (2006), ICTs and Rural Development in India. Santa Cruz: University of California .
41.
Thirtle C. , I. Irz , L. Lin , V. McKenzie- Hill and S. Wiggins (2001), ‘The Relationship between Changes in Agricultural Productivity and the Incidence of Poverty in Developing Countries’. Department for International Development Report No.7 946. Department for International Development, London .
42.
Timmer P. (1997), ‘How Well Did the Poor Connect to the Growth Process?’ Consulting Assistance on Economic Reform II Discussion Paper No. 17, Harvard Institute of International Development, Harvard, MA .
43.
Tiwari M. (2001), ‘Rural Poverty and the Role of Nonfarm Sector in Economic Development: The Indian Experience’. Ph.D. thesis, University of Southampton, Southampton .
44.
Tiwari M. (2006), ‘ An Overview of Growth in the ICT Sector in India: Can This Growth be Pro-poor? ’ World Review of Science Technology and Sustainable Development, 3(4), pp. 298–315 .
45.
Tongia, R. , E. Subrahmanian and V.S. Arunachalam (2005), Information and Communication Technologies for Sustainable Development: Defining a Global Research Agenda. Bangalore: Allied Publishers .
46.
UNCTAD (2003), E-Commerce and Development Report. New York and Geneva: United Nations .
47.
Virkkala, S. (2007), ‘ Innovation and Networking in Peripheral Areas: A Case Study of Emergence and Change in Rural Manufacturing ’, European Planning Studies, 15(4), pp. 511–29 .
48.
Williamson, O.E. (1981), ‘ The Economics of Organization: The Transaction Cost Approach ’, American Journal of Sociology, 87(3), pp. 548–77 .
49.
World Bank (2001a), Country Assistance Strategy, India. Washington, DC: World Bank .
50.
World Bank (2001b), World Development Report: Attacking Poverty. Washington, DC: World Bank .
51.
World Bank (2002), Using Information and Communications Technology to Reduce Poverty in Rural India. Washington, DC: World Bank, . http://www1.worldbank.org/prem, accessed October 2007.
52.
World Bank (2006), Information and Communications for Development 2006. Washington, DC: World Bank .
53.
Yu, S. Q. and M.J. Wang (2006), ‘ Modern Distance Education Project for the Rural Schools of China: Recent Development and Problems ’, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 22(4), pp. 273–83 .
