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Bridging the Rural Digital Divide

Author

Rajendra Kumar

The Hindu

April 12 2005

Summary

This article describes the growing popularity of community computer and internet kiosks as
a means of delivering "information and communication technologies (ICTs) to rural communities in
developing countries." While there are, according to the author, over 600 such kiosks in Tamil Nadu alone,
the benefits may be reaching primarily the wealthier and more educated members
of the communities they seek to serve. Women and members of
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) households are
particularly likely to be left behind.



The author lists four reasons for this socio-economic and gender gap in kiosk usage:

  1. People perceive the kiosks as complex, and may feel only the educated can understand how to use them. Additionally, women
    often lack the "independence, the decision making power, and financial resources to make use of
    the kiosk services fully."
  2. Notification of community members about kiosk services has focused on
    those households in the higher socio-economic strata.
  3. The expense of using the kiosks is too high for most households.
  4. Kiosks tend to be located in high-income neighbourhoods.

The author provides suggestions for bridging the socio-economic
and gender gaps:

  1. Ensure using the kiosks provides a "relative advantage", by making
    them faster and cheaper, or by increasing the delivery of e-government services.
  2. Reach women and SC/ST households through
    more effective communication, including mass media and wider canvassing of
    households.
  3. Appoint women as kiosk operators.
  4. Provide localised content.
  5. Consider charging lower income customers less to use kiosks.
  6. Move kiosks closer to SC/ST communities.


to read the full article in The Hindu.

Contact

The Hindu

thehindu@vsnl.com


The Hindu website

Source


i4d Weekly News, 15 April 2005; and

The Hindu website


Placed on the Communication Initiative site September 21 2005
Last Updated September 21 2005


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