Role of institutions for improving effectiveness of telecenters for rural empowerment

Abstract

Around the World, countries have taken steps to leverage the power of ICT for better Government service delivery, enhancing access to education and healthcare and creating new economic opportunities for citizens to accelerate development. International bodies like UN, World Bank, ITU etc have time and again given the importance of leveraging ICT for development. Potential of ICT for improving governance, reducing poverty, improving quality of life are well established in international literature and publications. In India, few States like Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have initiated ICT based governance services in early 2000. In 2006 DIT of Govt of India formulated NeGP (National e- Governance Plan) with mission mode projects and since then many states have initiated process of building State-Wide Area-Networks, State Data Centers, and selection of PPP partner for roll out of e-Governance services through Rural telecenters (CSCs). PPP partners came into project with expectation of revenue streams from roll out of G2C, B2C, B2B and subscription based services, however these expectations have not materialised due to various reasons like delay in establishment of SWAN, readiness of G2C services etc. In many States, full scaleG2C services as envisaged in NeGP are not yet rolled out. However ICT has potential to enhance the social, economical, informational and democratic asset base of rural people, thereby improve their agency to tap into opportunities created by government or market to enhance their standard of living. Financial Inclusion is an important game changer service which can be rolled out through telecenter and has potential to bring about social and political inclusion in society. For that to happen, important institutions like SDA (State Designated Agencies), NABARD, SLBC, Banks, Rural Development Agencies, DIT and DOT need to play their roles. Credibility of CSC can be enhanced by locating them at Panchayat Offices with reliable telecom and power infrastructure.