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"In the next two decades I see information as the

critical element in restructuring a lot of our
development. 1oday our democracy depends on three
pillars: 1udiciary, Legislature, and Executive. I believe
there is a fourth pillar of Indian democracy called
Information and it needs a lot more attention,"
- Sam Pitroda.
Bridging the Knowledge Divide - eWorld Forum 2011

Theme : eGov - ICT for achieving Millennium Development Goals

A Road to Empowerment through ICT: Evidences from Rural Gujarat
By Hansa 1oshi and Sunetra Deshpande




Introduction
For India, education is extremely critical Ior
sustainable development, economic growth
and poverty reduction. Changing
technologies and economic reIorms are
creating dramatic shiIts in the structure oI
economies, industries and labour markets
throughout the world and India is in the
IoreIront.
Despite evidence showcasing the positive
impacts oI InIormation Communication
Technology (ICT) Ior development projects,
it is oIten argued that ICTs have no role to
play in scenarios where the citizens are
unable to even provide themselves with
basic amenities and necessities like Iood,
health and education. In reality, though great
strides are being made in using ICTs to
enhance development goals, weak local
inIrastructure that raise connectivity issues,
lack oI technical skills & local capacities,
and lack oI relevant content are some oI the


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Lkead|ness
Index

Lnv|ronment

kead|ness

ujarat is an
MarkeL LnvlronmenL
ollLlcal 8egulaLory
LnvlronmenL
lnfrasLrucLure LnvlronmenL
lndlvldual 8eadlness
8uslness 8eadlness
CovernmenL 8eadlness
lndlvldual usage
8uslness usage
CovernmenL usage
problems that are commonly raised during
implementation oI ICT related projects.

IC1 Scenario in Cujarat
ujarat lives in a world oI constantly
evolving ICT and its enabling power. ICT
can be one oI the key enablers oI citizen
centric services delivery mechanism to
create easily accessible interIaces such as
one-stop, single-window, automated service
delivery outlets or common public service
centers, devoid oI harassment or corruption,
minimizing waiting time and inconvenience
to the public. In the last decade, we have
seen instances oI e-governance initiatives in
the country at the National, State, District
and even Block level. These initiatives have
helped the State gain a head start in e-
Readiness.



ujarat is an aspiring leader with e-
readiness Initiatives with the IT Policy
2006-2011. ujarat has been position at L2
Stage in InIormation Communication
Technologies (ICTs) which is categorized


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based on Environment, Readiness and Usage
Applications. It stands as an aspiring leader
ranking to 31st Top Hotspots in the World
and minimizing to reach the goal.
overnment oI ujarat has undertaken two
major initiatives. First; government has
provided VSAT based "Broadband"
connectivity to all the 13,716 village
panchayats in the state through e-ram
Vishwagram Society under the Panchayat &
Rural Housing Department. Second, all
village panchayats have been provided with
a computer, printer and other necessary
hardware so as to enable the village level
computer operator to deliver government
services to the people.
ujarat overnment has adopted innovative,
constructive and result oriented progressive
policies Ior the promotion oI e-governance
in the State. Through the Nodal Agency, the
overnment`s Science and Technology
Department positions ujarat, as a key state
in the Knowledge Economy sector and acts
as a medium to make overnment-Citizen
InterIace more eIIective, transparent and
eIIicient.
ujarat has excellent physical inIrastructure
and has made rapid strides in the Iield oI
InIormation Technology (IT) and IT enabled
sectors (ITES). The tele-density oI India is
70.89 as oI March 2011. ujarat has 778
mobile phone per 1000 population
i
. Wireless
telecom tele-density oI ujarat circle is
77.3 while active mobile tele-density is
57.0
ii
. Most oI the major telecom
operators oI the country are operational in
the State. ujarat has excellent telecom
network and all major towns and cities are
connected through landline and mobile
network. As a result, ICTs has had an impact
on the lives oI more than 6 million people oI
ujarat in multiIarious ways.

Satellite Aetwork Utilisation in
Cujarat
ujarat has been pioneer in utilising Space
Technology Ior ameliorating the living
standard oI the common man. overnment
explores space technology to bring about
quality changes in good governance and Ior
developing inIrastructure Iacilities. ujarat
is Iar ahead in the management and
discovery oI Water Resources and its
management through Remote Sensing.
ujarat has opened up new Irontiers in Tele-
Medicines and Distance-Education by
providing Broad-Band Connectivity up to
the villages. Around 20,000 classrooms oI
schools and colleges are covered under


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EDUSAT. Disaster Management, upgrading
Land-Water Resources, by exploring the
avenues oI Space Technology; ujarat is
pioneer in Water resources Mapping, Land-
Records ReIorms, and Satellite Mapping
Systems. ujarat has been making use oI
Space Technology Ior People`s rievances
Redressal and Ior other innovative initiatives
in Watershed Management, Fisheries and
various sectors
iii
.

Role of IC1 in Empowerment of
Rural Populations
To understand the role oI ICT in
empowerment oI rural populations oI
ujarat a small study was undertaken
covering six villages in two districts oI
ujarat. A total oI 245 in-depth interviews
and 30 FDs, with an average oI 10
participants per FD were conducted
Iocusing on gender, age and occupation to
Iind out their knowledge, attitude and
practices related to ICT. The study Iocused
on bringing out the impact oI ICT usage,
especially mobile technology on rural
population oI ujarat.
Two districts, namely Mehsana and Anand,
were selected Ior the study. The study
indicates that there is an emerging positive
trend towards equal status oI women in
Iamily and society due to access and use oI
ICT in day to day aIIairs. People across the
society have adopted this technology
willingly and happily as it satisIies a lot oI
their Ielt and perceived needs. Access to this
technology is not restricted by any social,
demographic, economic or geographical
barriers.
The Iindings oI the in-depth interviews give
us interesting insights. The proIile oI the
study respondents say that majority oI them
(86) were in the age group oI 41-60 years,
with nearly 85 oI them being male and
67 oI them belonging to APL Iamilies,
with nearly 50 oI the Iamilies belonging to
the BC category. The educational proIile oI
the respondents ranges Irom illiterate (12)
to post graduates (7). Majority oI the
respondents (81) are educated Irom
primary to graduate level. Occupation oI
majority oI the respondents is either
agriculture or related activities.
Media Exposure
Access to telephones (landline) in the study
villages is 20 but they have a good mobile
connectivity (70). Available data Irom the
Iour villages oI Mehsana say that 23


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households get a newspaper daily. Also in
each village about 2-3 have radio sets,
75 household have television sets with
57 having cable connection and 5
having DTH connection, 3 household have
computers with 1 having an internet
connection. Nearly 62 oI the in-depth
study group has access to a phone/mobile
phone. There is use oI ICT in three public
institutions Panchayat oIIice, school and
the Milk Co-operative Dairy. Each oI the
study village panchayat oIIice is connected
with e-ram. It is used Ior e-gram, e-
governance and data recording.
The FDs reported that villagers are
successIully accessing inIormation Irom
them aIter paying the token Iees. The
villagers have started exploring the Iacilities
Ior a variety oI uses. The services accessed
are election card, birth-death and income
certiIicate, paying electricity bill, ration
card, government job cards, data entry,
Mahatma andhi National Rural
Employment uarantee Act (MNREA),
ujarat State Wide Area Network
(SWAN) services. On an average per day
there is demand Ior about 70 birth or any
other certiIicate copies. Village Computer
Entrepreneur (VCE) helps the students oI
tenth and twelIth board to check their results
and admission process online.

Nearly 94 oI the study respondents access
the news through newspaper, television
radio, mobile phone or the Internet. 7.4
listen to the radio and nearly 75 watch the
television and read the newspaper Ior news,
while 3.5 access the news through the
mobile phone and 1.3 on the Internet.
Political Awareness
Almost all the respondents are aware that
casting a vote is their constitutional right
and also exercise their Iranchise. Use oI
Mobile SMS or Television Ior campaigning
Ior elections is very low. 79 oI the
respondents share views or participate in any
views sharing events with community
members about election issues. Similarly
78 oI the respondents said that the
elections contestants share their views with
them but the sharing is done majorly
through verbal communication and not
through mobile phones. Nearly 75 oI the
respondents are either actively involved in
knowing or are inIormed by others about
election contestants. 68 oI the respondents


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Ieel that the contestants` qualiIication is the
major Iactor in their getting elected.
FDS indicate that due to exposure to
various media, women are aware about
ram Panchayat and its services; though she
does not play an active role in its activities.
It was seen that women makes use oI ICTs
Ior socializing and Ior her house hold
matters. But she hardly uses it Ior political
issues and awareness. It was observed that
because oI ICTs, women are acquainted
with the names oI local leaders, sarpanch
and Members oI Parliament. A trend
towards increased awareness and interest in
local elections was seen.
Services from Covernment
Nearly 89 oI the respondents are aware
that there are government institutions
available to serve them. They have
identiIied the government schools/colleges,
gram panchayat, land oIIice, branches oI the
mandals, hospitals, health clinics, post oIIice
and milk dairy as institutions that are
available to serve them. 79.2 oI the
respondents said that they receive services
Irom government institutions. Nearly 52
oI the respondents have said that they played
a role in getting government services. The
role played included discussing with
community people (96.1), sharing views
with government oIIicials (4.7), and
taking joint initiatives with political people
(2.4).
About 71 oI the respondents identiIied
gram panchayat as doing various types oI
development activities. Other activities
according to them that gram panchayat
undertakes are welIare activities related
services, various types oI welIare
allowances, public discipline related
activities, local economic and social
development related planning,
administration and establishment related
activities and disaster management.
20 oI the respondents said that they play a
role either individually or jointly in raising
awareness about the corruption oI various
local organizations. About 35 oI them said
that transparency, accountability and service
quality are ensured in government service
providers.
Nearly 65 oI the respondents are aware
about gram panchayat committees. Nearly
46 oI them discuss about the services oI
the gram panchayat with their community.
Nearly 43 oI them are aware that the P


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takes initiatives to disseminate inIormation
regarding their services. Nearly 75 oI
them have received services Irom the gram
panchayat. About 27 oI the respondents
have said that they work either individually
or jointly in raising mass awareness
regarding enhancing the quality oI services
oI P. Nearly 48 oI them participate in
any discussion related to transparency and
accountability oI the P.
omestic Jiolence
Nearly 94 oI the respondents agree that
domestic violence is a crime. Majority oI
them identiIied 'beating oI wiIe or Iemale
member oI Iamily (87) as a Iorm oI
domestic violence, Iollowed by creating
pressure Ior dowry (64.3), mental abuse
(57.8). Nearly 57 agreed they have
discussion in Family/Community Ior
preventing violence against women (VAW).
Out oI them majority oI them (75) said
that action taken when women oI Iamily
become victim oI violence is to discuss with
other Iamily members. Nearly 25 oI the
respondents maintain communication with
court or other social organizations working
with reducing VAW. Nearly 54 oI
respondents receive/provide any support
Irom/to Iamily members in reducing VAW.
About 36 oI the respondents said that they
provide social support (advice, supporting
with money) to their neighbours or
community to reduce VAW. About 6 oI
the respondents are involved with any
judiciary process Ior VAW. Nearly 15 oI
the respondents said that they work
individually or jointly in raising mass
awareness on preventing VAW.

Awareness about Local, Aational,
and International Issues
Higher exposure to media (ICT) has led to a
high level oI awareness oI important issues
that matter at the local, national and
international level. 72 oI the respondents
said that they participate in the discussion
related to local, national and international
issues. Nearly 16 are involved with social,
political or cultural organization or
activities. About 11 oI the respondents
said that they are or were involved in with
any local initiatives based on any national or
international issue.
Impact of IC1 Usage
The Iamily landline phone connection has
been replaced by multiple mobile phone Ior
Iamily members in most oI the household.


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Mobile phone usage has increased
tremendously. It has become a personal
device Ior communication amongst
youngsters, men & women. It has also
become status symbol in society.

Findings Irom the FDs say that the phones
are used by Iarmers Ior their work they
keep in constant touch with the market to
buy and sell agriculture related items. They
do not have to physically go and get the
labour needed Ior the Iield work. They also
keep in touch Irom the Iield with the Iamily
and save a lot oI time and eIIort in passing
important messages. Parents are now also
giving the mobile to daughters to keep track
oI her movement Ior her saIety. They do not
encourage sharing her number with others as
it would encourage eve-teasing or crank
calls. Some are also oI the opinion that
because the youth (both girls and boys) have
access to each other through phone cases oI
elopements and extra-marital aIIairs have
increased. It has also crossed the caste
barrier, which is socially unacceptable with
the older generation.
The use oI radio has gone down with the
advent oI the mobile. Such phones are
preIerred, which have this Iacility (FM). The
respondents say that they can carry the
instrument anywhere and remain connected
at all times.
The adults (above 40) are oI opinion that
they cannot use the SMS Iacility as they
have a language barrier. They think that iI
ujarati language SMS is available it will be
very useIul. Most women use the phone
(above 40) but not all are conIident enough
to dial on their own. They are happy to give
access to their daughters. They have
Ireedom to call their natal Iamily. This gives
them a Ieeling oI conIidence and security.
Within the women respondents the younger
group showed conIidence in handling and
usage oI the phone.
Due to education and ICT inIluence, women
are involved in major Iamily decisions to a
large extent. Most oI the time, their choice
and opinion are considered in major Iamily
decisions. As a result, there is an emerging
positive trend towards equal status oI
women in Iamily and society.
Participants in the FDs were divided on
the issue oI economic beneIit arising out oI
the use oI ICTs. Students and home makers
do not Iind that it is translating into any
economic beneIit. Business class people Iind
that mobile has helped them a lot in saving


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time and get right mix oI product at right
time Ior their business, which also assisted
the supplier Ior saving time in material
transIer as well as payment on time. This
may not be visible but the non-tangible gain
due to mobile is very high. II opportunity
cost is taken into consideration then mobile
is a clear winner in translating the calls into
economic gain. Even SME, Iarmers and
labourers are oI the same opinion.
A good number oI non users have shared
that they are keen to purchase mobile
connection in near Iuture and that will
enhance their income as well as socio
economic status within neighbours and
relatives.
It was shared with research team that now
mobile is considered highly individual
centric. It was observed that irrespective oI
the economic level oI household or
economic level oI women in the Iamily, they
pick up the phone iI and only iI they possess
it. In some cases it has been reported that
they are asked by their male Iamily
members to pick up the phone at tell the
caller that the mobile owner had Iorgotten
the mobile at home.
When colour television was introduced in
1982 the country witnessed a trend were
social interaction waned in preIerence to
watching the Iascinating world oI television
in colour. The women used to religiously
Iollow the soap-operas and serials. The
advent oI the mobile has brought back the
human and social interaction back. Now
women have started taking an interest in
updating themselves on latest happenings
and news. They keep track through the local
news channel. They discuss these issues
when they meet and like to be in the know
oI the latest happenings.
Summing Up
Exposure to various media has made people
aware oI the gram panchyat and its services.
As a result oI their exposure to various ICTs
women are acquainted with the names oI
local leaders, sarpanch and members oI
parliament. A trend towards increased
awareness and interest in local elections is
also seen.
Television brought out a social revolution in
India nearly thirty years ago. The
penetration oI mobile communication has
been amazingly Iast. This technology has
made the world a very small place. People
across the society have adopted this
technology willingly and happily as it


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satisIies a lot oI Ielt and perceived needs oI
everyone. Access to this technology is not
restricted by any social, demographic,
economic or geographical barriers.
Access to the mobile has brought about a
silent revolution in the lives oI women also.
They Ieel a lot more conIident as they are
now instantly connected to their Iamilies,
both natal and marital. Middle aged women
use it to stay in touch with Iamily; especially
mothers need/use it to keep track oI their
children.
The youth is the savviest user oI this
technology. They use it Ior multiple
purposes, which include communication,
education and entertainment.
Men use it as a tool oI generating or
Iacilitating their business/work as well as a
means oI keeping in touch with their Iamily.
The mobile is slowly replacing the landline
as it is MOBILE and can be used anywhere
and at anytime.


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