Information and Communication Technology (Ict) Projects

Information and Communication Technology (Ict) Projects

In the past few years, the power of Internet as a communication medium has captured the imagination of developmental organizations around the world. Over the course of the last few years, statements affirming the need to close the so-called ‘digital divide’ between social groups with and without access to the internet have been made through several UN agencies, and at meetings of developmental organizations around the world. For example, in the Human Development Report (1999), Kofi Annan specifically mentioned digital divide as a source of growing inequality in the world, and committed the United Nations to bridging this divide. It is today the slogan of the season, the mantra of the year.
Billions of dollars and crores of rupees are committed to the hope that ICT can enable the poorest of developing nations to leapfrog traditional problems of development like poverty, illiteracy, disease, hunger, unemployment, corruption, and social inequalities so as to move rapidly into the modern information age.A number of projects have been undertaken in various parts of the world attempting to provide sustainable digital access to rural communities. India boasts a maximum number of such projects.
Goals:

1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2: Achieve universal primary education.
3: Promote gender equality and empower women.
4: Reduce child mortality.
5: Improve maternal health.
6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other.
7: Access to real time information.
8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Impediments:

1. More talk than action: Plans abound. Ground realities are fewer. International, national, state and local projects and conferences abound. Only a few have substance so far.
2. HIGH COST OF IT DEVICES N SOFTWARES: Until the costs of the last mile of basic IT devices, and of local language software are brought down, the goal of wiring India will remain unachieved.
3. Lack of awareness among users is widespread.
4. Development of...

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