Role of ICTs in Indian Rural Communities

Highlights the need to focus on empowering Indian rural communities access to information, knowledge and poverty alleviation among them by deploying the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Presents an overview and role of ICTs in rural development in decision-support systems, improving services and empowering citizens to access information and knowledge. Analyses the factors preventing rural communities from reaping the benefits of ICTs, Indian initiatives to overcome the factors, ways and means of poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Identifies the bottlenecks and solutions, and discusses the lessons learned. Concludes that creating information-rich societies is a key element of poverty alleviation and sustainable development. A national agenda on a C-8 thrust towards: Connectivity provision, Content creation, Capacity augmentation, Core technologies creation and exploitation, Cost reduction, Competence building, Community participation and Commitment to deprived and disadvantaged would definitely help in meeting the socio-economic aspirations of rural communities