Electronic Government and the Rural Poor: The Case of Gyandoot

Simone Cecchini and Monica Raina
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Monica Raina: Computer Centre, Indian Institute of Management Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, 380 015, India,

Information Technologies and International Development, 2004, vol. 2, issue 2, 65-75

Abstract: In the poor and drought-prone rural district of Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, India, Gyandoot has tried to make government services more accessible to villagers through information and communications technology (ICT) since January 2000. Two recent surveys of this e-government project allow us to evaluate whether the local population is benefiting. Main findings are that service satisfaction is quite high, but usage is low, and Gyandoot is not reaching the poorest people. We conclude that much of the potential benefits of e-government are not being realized. Lessons for ICT projects that intend to benefit the rural poor include the use of appropriate technology, implementation of the project by agents who have incentives to serve the poor, community participation and ownership, availability of pro-poor services, and campaigns to raise awareness. Copyright (c) 2005 The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Technologies and International Development.

Date: 2004
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