Information & Communication Technology

For Sustainable Development

In Rural Areas
Mr. Dhiraj Pramod Shirode
G. H. Raisoni Institute of Business and
Management,
Jalgaon, 425001 Maharashtra, India
shirodedhiraj@gmail.com
Abstract - Technology is the powerful tool that
can help to change the mindset of rural citizens. The
vision of ICT for sustainable development in rural
areas focuses upon the education, health care
knowledge, general knowledge, culture and
technological infrastructures. The contribution of
ICT will be definitely helpful for sustainable
development in rural areas. This paper has been
developed to find out awareness of information and
communication technology with the help of
internet, social media networks and smart phones.
Index Terms Information and communication
technology, social media networks, smart phones,
internet, sustainable rural development
INTRODUCTION
Technology is a gift of God. After the gift of life
it is possibly the greatest of God's gifts. It is the
mother of civilizations, of arts and of sciences.
- Freeman Dyson
ICT
(information
and
communications
technology) we can also say this data and
correspondence innovations, it is an umbrella term
that incorporates any communication gadget or
application, on all sides of: radio, television, cellular
phones (smart phones), computer (laptop) and
network, hardware and software, satellite systems
and so on, in addition the various administrations
and applications associated with them, such as
videoconferencing and remotely distance learning.
ICTs are often spoken of in a particular context,
such as ICTs in education, pharmaceutical, or

Ms. Shruti Vijay Chaudhari

G. H. Raisoni Institute of Business and

Management,
Jalgaon, 425001 Maharashtra, India
shruti.chaudhari@gmail.com
reading libraries. The term is fairly more common
slight of the United States.
The ICT (Information and Communication
Technologies) are being gradually used by the
Indian government to convey its importance and
services at the well-situated locations to the
citizens. The rural ICT uses attempt to offer the
services of central agencies (like co-operative union
district administration, and state and central
government departments) to the citizens at their
rural community door steps. These uses utilize the
ICT to present superior and inexpensive
connectivity and processing solutions.
As indicated by the European Commission, the
significance of ICTs lies less in the technology itself
than in its capacity to make more admittance to data
and correspondence in underserved populations.
Numerous nations around have established
associations for the advancement of ICTs, just
because of it is panicked that unless less
technologically highly developed areas have a
probability to catch up, the growing technological
advances in well urbanized nations will only serve
to intensify the already existing economic gap
between technological "have" and "have not" areas
globally, the United Nations actively encourages
ICTs for expansion as a means of viaducting the
digital split.
Information & Communication Technologies
for Development is a common tenure referring to
the function of ICTs (Information and
Communication Technologies) inside the field of
socioeconomic development, universal advancement
and human rights. The essential hypothesis behind

the methodology is that more and enhanced

information and communication facilitates the
advancement of a citizens (be this to enhance
revenue, education, health, safety, or many other
phases of an individual growth). In our times, the
most tangible and powerful way to progressive
information and communication flows in a society
consists in encouraging ICT.
Due to the information and communication
technology, society is well developed and makes the
innovation in any sector. In the past day, all the
people are not ready to change their mind and also
not ready to change their thinking. When new
technology is arises, there were people are ready to
apposed it but when they are saw the terrific impact
is found towards the society. People are trying to use
these technologies. At that time the information not
achieved in rural area or we can say in illiteracy
sectors. When in the rural areas this technology is
reaches, it helps very well specially to farmers.
Especially due to technology, all the people are
removed their illiteracy, uneducatedness try to new
innovation and achieved the smartness. With the
help of information and communication technology,
the government can create new policies to
development of rural areas and provided all the
information through the communication media.

I. ICT AVAILABILITY FOR RURAL APPLICATIONS

Computers have become more influential, easy to
accessible and non expensive. The PC revolution
has brought them closer to the users to the extent
that in number cases users have designed and
developed their individual applications. Conversely,
till recently, it has not turned into easy to make local
substance and regional language interface, to make
possible their use in rural areas. In addition, even if
the hardware expenses are letting down, the total
cost of possession for rural applications is pretty
high. The expenses of the minimum required
gadgets like Computers, Modem, Power stabilizer,
Scanner and Printer all along with the authorize
license costs of software (OS, Database, and
application as requirements) does not validate their
utilize for offering government related information
services, just on the basis of ROI standards. These

equipments turned into outdated very soon, and will

have high maintenance expenses in rural areas.
At the current cost levels, to breakeven, the kiosk
operators will have to find alternative revenue
generation activities utilizing these equipments. We
notice that in many cases such business potential
does not exist and even if it existed, the kiosk
owners / operators are not trained to develop new
solutions. Several entrepreneurs are attempting to
offer inexpensive hardware and software solutions
for rural applications. The CorDECT technology by
nLogue Communications and the Simputer by
PicoPeta Simputers Pvt. Ltd. are good examples of
such initiatives. These organizations developed the
computer and wireless connectivity solutions with
indigenous components, software, & open source
structure. It is expected that large scale production
of these structure would bring in suitable cost of
valuable technologies for rural applications. MSSRF
based at Chennai is doing revolutionary work in
designing appropriate technologies for the rural
deprived.
II. OBJECTIVE OF ICT IN RURAL AREAS

To study the awareness of ICT in rural areas

To highlight current scenario about ICT in

rural areas
ICT has become, within a very less time, one
of the fundamental structural block of modern
society. Many countries now regard understanding
ICT and mastering the vital skills and concepts of
ICT as part of the core of education, alongside
reading, writing and numeracy.

III. AIMS AND PURPOSES

ICT aims to ensure that there should have access
to the best educational facilities necessary to
prepare young people to play full roles in modern
society and to contribute to a knowledge nation.
With the help of ICT, we increase IT/computer
literacy in rural areas at a very nominal and
affordable price. Various organizations across the
world have come forward to join hand in this
endeavor.

A. Education

ICT can formulate major growth in social and

economic development, there is need to devote
considerable effort and resources in the education
structure. Education structure in rural areas is
currently under resourced, with a extensive segment
of the population without access to high school and
tertiary level education as well as proficient
preparation.
Against this foundation, there is extraordinary
need to incorporate ICT in the education system and
develop the nation's research and development
(R&D) capability to sustain, facilitate and
contribute to the development of key sectors of the
nationwide economy.
B. Culture and Heritage

Access to information through Internet forms the

basis for creating an information society. Therefore
the availability of 'internet access points' to the
members of the communities is as important as the
information itself. Development and utilization of
ICT supports rural development, community based
proposal and projects.
Information on our Cultural inheritance is passed
from one generation to another by oral means. There
is great need to introduce and promote ICT in rural
areas to preserve cultural inheritance, also the entire
way through internet. Apart from protection our
cultural inheritance, the use of internet in rural areas
will improve our ability to correspond this
inheritance to the internal communities for their
benefit and the social and economic advancement of
our country. The emphasis should be to promote
wide spread public access to information through
appropriate traditional and new technology solutions
based on relevant local content while promoting
cultural inheritance.
C. Health Care

It is important to note that the introduction of

internet in rural areas will play a vital and effective
role in the organization and delivery of health care
health services. The emphasis here will be to
improve access to quality health care as close to the
family as possible through the development and
exploitation of internet and other modern
technologies since the existing of communications

between health centers and administrative centers

are not sufficient. There is need to explore Health
possibilities in order to reach the rural masses living
in remote areas.
D. Agriculture and Development

Agriculture is economic backbone as it plays an

important role in the social and economic
development in community. There is need to
integrate ICT in the agricultural sector through the
use of internet in the planning, execution, screening
and the information delivery process.
E. Integrating Youth and Women Issues

The successful brainstormed of internet with

existing social and an economic structure depends
on its people. Usually in most of our communities
youths and women are heavily marginalized.
However, in most activities they constitute a very
important segment of society.
They are actually the majority in all
communities. Subsequently, there is need to focus
youths and women as special groups and
communities in society that positively contribute to
the growth of ICT as well as the use of Internet as
empowerment tools in their daily activities.
It is getting to be clear that we need to use
internet as an instrument to ordinary youths and
women issues in most activities of the rural
economy and society and to empower youths and
women through opportunities created by
implementation of ICT projects and programs in the
rural areas.
F. Telecommunication and Supporting Infrastructure

It is commonly understood that ICT

infrastructure encompasses telecommunication
networks, radio and TV transmission systems, the
internet and other multimedia delivery platforms. It
should be generally acknowledged that transmission
networks for radio, telephone, TV and internet are
the basis for mass media development. This is
further
enhanced
by
associated
physical
infrastructure such as roads, electrical energy and
common utilities. With respect to ICT, lack of
reliable, widely distributed and high capacity date
network for data, sound and video has contributed to
the low availability and penetration of ICT services

as well as cost effective deployment of basic

services especially in rural areas.
All this has resulted in inadequate or complete
lack of telephone and internet services, high start-up
costs and long bureaucratic procedures for radio,
especially community radio and TV broadcasting.
The major importance here is to increase access and
endorse extensive deployment of ICT services
through
the
expansion
of
the
nation's
telecommunication back bone infrastructure
covering the remotest part of rural areas.
IV. DRIVERS OF ICT
a) People try to eliminate their illiteracy in
every sector
b) Believe in to give proper education to their
next generation.
c) Due to ICT, environment is well secured
d) The information is provided at right
position.
e) In past day, there is no such technology is
arrived that time any important information
or instructions are to be given by
government are not reached at correct time.
This problem is solved because of ICT.
f) Farmers are tried to get more information
with the help of internet for better farming
purposes.
g) Long distance relations are maintained well.
Due to the communication equipments.
h) For training purpose the employment are
well createdat the rural area.
i) People need not to leave their hometown for
the purpose of economy.
j) Thus with the help of information and
communication technology the rural area are
developed very well.
V. BARRIERS OF ICT
Projects in marginalized rural areas face the
most significant hurdles - but since people in
marginalized rural areas are at the very bottom of
the pyramid, development efforts should make the
most difference in this sector. ICTs have the

potential to multiply development effects and are

thus also meaningful in the rural arena.
However, introducing ICTs in these areas is also
most costly, as the following barriers exist:
a) Lack of Infrastructure: no electrical power,
no running water, bad roads, etc.
b) Lack of Health Services: diseases like HIV,
TB, and malaria are more common.
c) Lack of Employment: there are practically
no jobs in marginalized rural areas.
d) Hunger: hungry users have problems
concentrating.
e) Illiteracy: Text user interfaces do not work
very well; innovative Human Computer
Interfaces
(see
Human
Computer
Interaction) are required.
f) Lack of intends to keep up the project: some
projects may be left to deteriorate in time
because maintenance is sporadic and if a
component breaks it is costly to obtain
skilled people and parts to make a repair.
g) Lack of means to maintain the project due to
short-terms grants
h) Lack of support from the local government
i) Social Contexts: the potential users living in
rural marginalized areas often cannot easily
see the point of ICTs because of social
context and also because of the impediments
of hunger, disease and illiteracy.
j) Possibility of encouraging brain-drain.
k) Corruption is one of the factors that hamper
the implementation of ICT projects in rural
areas.
l) Training and seminars must be conducted
according to a suitable time for farmers, to
make sure that their daily routine is not
affected.
m) Many applications are not user friendly.
n) Projects are sometimes not being needsdriven and not significant to local
environment.

Another significant problem can be the selection

of software installed on technology- instructors
trained in one set of software (for example Ubuntu)
can be expected to have difficulty in navigating
computers donated with different software (for
example Windows XP).
Finally, while the training, support, hardware
and software may all be donated, it is rare for
another vital component of technology, Internet
access, to be made available at a discounted rate.

IX. SAMPLE SIZE

The sample size of my paper is limited to 100
people only. Out of which only 20 people had the
knowledge of the information and communication
technology. Other 16 people have the oral idea of
this technology. Rest of the people did not have any
idea of such technology.
X. DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
1. Are you educated?
a)
No
45
th
b)
below 5
15
th
c)
below 10
35
th
d)
above 10
05

Education
no
below 5
below 10

VI. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This report is based on primary as well
secondary data, however primary data collection
was given more importance since it is overhearing
factor in attitude studies. One of the most important
user of research methodology is that it helps in
identifying the problem, collecting, analyzing the
required information data and alternative solution to
the problem.
VII. DATA SOURCES
Research is totally based on primary data.
Secondary data can be used only for the references.
Research has been done by primary data collection,
and primary data has been collected by interacting
with various people by asking them questionnaire.
VIII. SAMPLING
The sample was selected of them who are the
people lived at BAGLAAN region, NASHIK
district, Maharashtra. It was also collected through
personal visit to rural citizens, by informal talks and
through filling up the questionnaire prepared. The
data been analyzed by using statically tool.

above 10

2. What is your occupation?

a)
Nothing
b)
Farming
c)
Cattle Farmer d)
Job
-

04
45
35
16

Occupation
Nothing
Farming
Cattel Farmer

Job

3. How many children you have?

a)
No
08
b)
Below 2
32
c)
Below 5
46
d)
Above 5
14

5. What your children do?

a)
Job
b)
Education
c)
Nothing
d)
Our Business -

Educational Status

No of child

4. Do you educate them?

a)
No
b)
Yes
c)
Dont Know -

30
40
05
25

No

Job

below 2

Education

below 5

Nothing

above 5

Our Business

6. Do you watch T.V.?

a)
Yes
b)
No
c)
Sometime
-

35
45
20

Level of Eduacation

65
05
30

T.V.

No

Yes

Yes

No

Can't say

Some Time

7. Which Program do you see on T.V.?

a)
Entertainment 67
b)
News
15
c)
Sports
12
d)
Knowledge 06

Getting knowledge
from T.V.

9. Which type of mobile phone they using?

a)
Simple
27
b)
Multimedia 18
c)
Smart Phone 55

Mobile Phone
Category

Entertainment
Simple

News

Multimedia

Sports

Smart Phone

Knowledge

8. Anyone use mobile in your family?

a)
Yes
70
b)
No
05
c)
Cant Know 15
d)
Dont Say
10

Mobile

10. Do you use internet?

a)
Whats this? b)
No
c)
Yes
-

25
45
30

Internet
Yes
no
Can't say
don't Know

What is this?

No
Yes

11. What you access on internet?

a)
Searching information b)
Social Network
c)
Messengers
d)
Education Purpose -

22
38
30
10

Purpose of Internet
Uses

13. What do know about information and

communication technology?
a)
Dont know 35
b)
Whats This 45
c)
Cant explain 15
d)
Yes
05

Knowledge of ICT
don't know
anythig
what is this?

Information
Social Media
Messengers

Can't expain
yes

Education

12. Whether cyber cafes are available in your

area?
a)
Yes
10
b)
No
50
c)
Dont Know 20
d)
What is this? 20

availability of cyber
caf

14. Do you have any idea about rural

development?
e)
No
31
f)
Whats This 47
g)
Cant explain 12
h)
Yes
10

Idea of Rural
Development

Yes

No

No

what is this?

Don't Know

Can't expain

What is this?

yes

XI. FINDINGS
1. Major people are not educated as it
comprises of 45% of total sample size and
only 05% people are having education
above 10th, many people are below 10th as
it comprises only 50% of total sample size.
2. Baglaan region is Effective in farming as
45% of peoples occupation. Another that is
35% people are doing cattle farming. Still
16% people are doing job.
3. In Baglaan region, there is number of
children in on family are below 5 as 46%,
below 2 children families are 32%.
4. One surprising thing that, in Baglaan region
people trying to give better education to
their next generation as 45% families are do
so. Other are dont know about whether
their childrens are getting education or not
such families as per the sample size are
35%.
5. Another thing which I found during the
research is 40% childrens are taking the
education and rest of the doing jobs at
hometown as well as outside.
6. Near about Every family have the
Television at home as 95% of sample size,
rest of the people didnt have television at
home.
7. Here I am again surprise to getting the
information that most of the people who are
watching television they are interested to see
just entertainment programs i.e. 67% as
sample size. Other people are watch news
and sport they are 27%, rest of this they are
watch knowledge programs.
8. In Baglaan, Every person have mobile as 70
% and other people are too much confused
that what is mobile. But at the same time
near about out of 70% people only 35%
people know how to use it. Other are just
used for receiving call and dialing the call.

9. In above research I found that around 55%

citizens in Baglaan using smart phones but
they didnt have any idea what and how to
utilize all the features of smart phones.
10. In Baglaan region, there is only 30% people
are use the internet facilities. Most of the
people dont know about internet as 45%
rest of the people is not use internet.
11. I was very surprised when I observed that
68% peoples using smart phones for social
media networking like Facebook and
WhatsApp messengers for sharing only
photos and videos.
12. Therefore only 10% know that there is any
cyber caf is available or not. Some people
i.e. 40% dont what is cyber caf. As per the
50% people in Baglaan region, cyber caf is
not available.
13. I am glad to know that at least 20% people
know about ICT because other are dont
know about ICT.
14. Very shocking observation I found that only
22% peoples having idea about rural
development remaining peoples dont have
any idea about sustainable development in
rural areas.
XII. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The people did not have any information
about Technology if around of them but the
people dont know that this is a part of
technology. The people should know about
everything at least which thing they are
using in current age.
2. During the conversation with the people, it
found that many people are interested to get
the information about what is new in world
but due to unavailability of such
infrastructure, their goals are not getting any
success. There is necessary to provide such

3.

4.

5.

6.

infrastructure so that peoples interest is

developed for new things
Sometimes people are using that thing
which has no knowledge about those
products. There is a big need to give them
training how to use that product. So that
they are use it satisfactory.
In rural area there is lack of facilities, such
as electricity, cyber cafe, Educational
organizations etc. there is necessity to adopt
such area by government or any private
organization to develop them properly.
The some type of technology is reached at
the rural areas such as television, computer,
laptop, smart phones, internet etc. but people
are only used it just for the entertainment
purpose. The people should be tried to get
the information and develop themselves on
base their needs.
Some of them have basic ideas about ICT
but still they need proper guidance for
optimum uses of ICT for the sustainable
development in rural areas as well as self
development.

XIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY
A. References from books

1. Business research methodology

by C.R.Kothari
2. Personal Interviews.
3. Questionnaire
B. Online Database

1.
2.
3.
4.

Wikipedia
www.yahooQuestions.com
www.google.com
Literatures