Rural Development

This summary is part of a research project carried out between March and October 2006 in support of the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), one of The Communication Initiative (The CI)'s partners.

The purpose of this project was to assess the use and effectiveness of information and communication technologies (ICT) by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works with rural nomadic communities in the hill state of Uttaranchal, North India. Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) has, under the banner of this initiative, implemented the use of a wireless communication system in the relaying of information between these isolated tribal communities.

According to this case study, forest practices that are community-based and community-managed often fare better and are more sustainable than those models that are formulated and controlled by the state. This inclusive approach is seen as helping to alleviate the issues of alienation of locals and the disintegration of traditional cultures and livelihoods. Government and business practices do not always respect this, which can lead to unwanted interference. One such obstacle to self-determination in this region is the governmental policy of turning increasing amounts of forest land throughout various parts of India into parks and sanctuaries. The result of this has been the forced resettlement of indigenous peoples from their forest dwelling communities to areas that are outside of their traditional habitat.

In an effort to help tribes in the region, specifically the Van Gujjar community, maintain their way of living in forested areas, RLEK has been fighting for the means to ensure Van Gujjar empowerment. With no electricity or signs of modern technology of any kind, the Van Gujjars are also physically cut off from roads and so are rendered essentially helpless against human encroachment. To help combat this, the community has been supplied with wireless telephone sets to better communicate with RLEK and other neighbourhoods.

About 80 handsets were distributed throughout the community, while RLEK staff were supplied with nine. Three base camps and one central station in the RLEK office serve as the command posts to facilitate this new style of communication for the Van Gujjars. The handsets run on batteries which, once fully charged, can work for 8 to 10 days. After that, RLEK staff pick up the batteries for charging.

The Gujjars convey any messages they may have to the base station, which then passes it on to the central station. Reception is generally good, with certain patches in area treetops identified by the Van Gujjars as effective for direct transmission to the central station. The wireless sets cannot, however, be used to communicate with state institutions like police stations, hospitals, forest department etc. This is due to the state’s strict control of the use of wireless communication in India. The Van Gujjars were only allowed to communicate with RLEK. Using a wireless set without government permission is illegal, and the potential for eavesdropping of conversations by the army or police is high. In return for two frequencies, RLEK must pay a license fee of Rs.2 per year to the Ministry of Telecommunications.

To get the most benefit from this technology, members of the community (both males and females) are trained at regular intervals about the appropriate and effective operation and maintenance of these wireless sets.

According to this study, the project has been a success. Wireless users have reported an ease of operation and a strong sense of empowerment in their maintenance of their forest community. Members who have used the sets expressed satisfaction with being able to quickly and easily communicate with others. Being able to report poaching, illegal cutting, fires and medical emergencies has given a sense of security, confidence, and authority to the community. Wireless communication has therefore become a literal lifesaver. The sense of isolation has lifted in this particular community. In addition to physical reinforcement, this ICT project has also aided indigenous people in the area in learning about and instituting more effective resource management of forests.

For this particular ICT project to remain a viable form of communication in areas such as these, the huge cost involved in setting up and maintaining the infrastructure must be reduced. The average cost of a handset costs Rs. 14,000. The one time cost of installing the main central station and the three base stations is Rs. 35,000. Maintaining one handset per year (including the constant recharging of batteries) costs around Rs.10,000. The yearly license fee to the government for the permission to use a wireless is Rs. 150,000. [0.1 million makes one lac. Current dollar to rupee rates are 1USD=48 Indian Rupees.]

In addition, direct access to facilities such as emergency medical, education services, etc. must be instituted along with the wireless sets for the system to operate as more than just a communication tool between communities. For this project, RLEK undertook the role of reference point. State institutions like police stations, hospitals, and forestry departments are accessible only by state sanctioned recipients, such as army and police officers, and are not currently available to the Van Gujjars. Government restrictions regarding who can and cannot gain a license to operate wireless tools must be eased if this project is to be replicated in other parts of the country for the benefit of other indigenous peoples. This will take a significant shift in attitude at the highest government levels. Also, more extensive training to community members is required for the wireless communication system to be independently operated and maintained as another step toward self-sufficiency and empowerment.