Integrating Bits for a Bigger Bite

This article, published in the June 2005 edition of the i4d Magazine, describes the
information and communication technology (ICT) drive in rural Karnataka in India, and
offers a series of recommendations "for maximising the benefits
of service delivery through ICTs." The article highlights the need to integrate the various initiatives, which are currently run as independent programmes by a variety of governmental and non-governmental organisations.


The authors argue
that despite Karnataka's leading role in India's Information Technology drive,
"the many ICT initiatives implemented
in the rural parts of the state have not brought about any radical change in
service delivery to this section of society." This article focuses on the need to
create an integrated, profitable model with a regional orientation. 



The authors provide an overview of the major ICT initiatives in rural Karnataka,
including government initiatives from the Department of Public Administration and Revenue (DPAR), the
Education Department, and the Department of Agricultural Marketing, as well as the non-governmental
Asia Heart Foundation. They note difficulties these initiatives have faced with
regard to infrastructure, profitability and inter- and
intra-sectoral integration. Many in rural areas, they point out, are not yet
comfortable with computer technology and the internet, and low literacy rates
and access difficulties mean that information doesn't reach as many people as
desired.

The authors look specifically at the successes and failures of DPAR's
Bhoomi project, whose private franchise model provides kiosks at which
landowners can access a computerised Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC).
This model, they state, is "is one initiative that has the capability of
breaking even on Operation and Management (O&M) costs." Problems with
this programme, however, include lack of profitability, the red-tape required
for citizens to use the systems, and the existence of too many franchises within
a geographical area.



The authors offer the following policy recommendations based on an analysis of
existing programmes, and discussions with both senior personnel in ongoing ICT
initiatives and private entrepreneurs providing services in the rural
community:

• Adopt policies to promote entrepreneurship through local Self Help Groups (SHGs) for delivery of ICT services.
• Promote a single centralised ICT centre, preferably one for every 2 villages.
• Support capacity building and networking assistance efforts to help the local entrepreneurs provide broader and more efficient services.
• Increase government support for localisation of application interfaces into local languages.
• Promote business models that encourage use of renewable energy sources and reduced power consumption.
• Encourage corporate participation in introducing ICT driven services in rural areas.
• Create a centralised institutional mechanism, spearheaded by the Department of Information Technology and Bio-Technology
  (IT&BT), to examine the implementation of rural ICT initiatives from a holistic perspective.