Previous

Page - 10

e-Choupal

Conceived by ITC in June 2000, e-Choupal has already become the largest initiative among all Internet-based interventions in rural India. 'e-Choupal' services today reach out to more than
half a million farmers growing a range of crops - soyabean, coffee, wheat, rice, pulses - in some 4,500 villages through 770 kiosks across four states (Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh). Sanchalaks - as they are often called - can access information in their local language on weather and market prices, disseminate knowledge on scientific farm practices and risk management, facilitate the sale of farm inputs (now with embedded knowledge) and purchase farm produce from the farmers' door-steps. The company plans to extend the services to other 14 states also. The net business of over one billion has been transacted so far.

Though the projects discussed are in their early stages of development, they do reveal some of the primitive facts about how and what make these projects tick. Take the case of Gyandoot and e-Choupal: both the projects have a commercially viable mechanism to generate finance and, therefore, they appear to be successful. On the other hand, the village knowledge centre project of Swaminathan Foundation has survived one of the most important challenge of electric supply by establishing self-reliant solar-powered network connectivity. Nevertheless, it is yet to build a commercially viable alternative for its sustenance. Furthermore, the Warana wired village project in Maharashtra is yet to grow beyond a well-connected delivery mechanism for the sugarcane bundles. All these suggest that sufficient need analysis and social research has to go into these projects before they are launched on wide scale. Initiatives should be responsive to their surroundings and limitations, especially to the local economic set-up. For instance, the Simputer initiative has several local language interfaces and it is quite affordable. Similarly, the Te-Net Group in India brought more adaptable and affordable access technology.

Importance of Closing the Digital Divide

The idea that some information and communication technologies are vital to quality civic life is not new. It is considered that Internet and other ICTs are somehow transforming society, improving mutual understanding, eliminating power differentials, realizing a truly free and democratic society, and other benefits. In many countries, access to the telephone system is considered such a vital element that governments implement various policies to offer affordable telephone service. Unfortunately, some countries lack sufficient telephone lines. Literacy is arguably another such element, although it is not related to any new technologies or latest technological devices.

Next

Dr. Gursharan Singh Kainth specializes in Quantitative & Development Economics, and is currently Director of GAD Institute of Development Studies, Amritsar, a self-financed research institute. Has been honoured with various awards, including Guru Draunacharya Samman, Vijay Rattan Award, etc.
Ms. Kamalpreet Kaur is Research Scholar at GAD Institute of Development Studies.
Article posted on December 28, 2008.