Importance Of Information And Communication Technology In Neglected Rural Areas

Today we live in a TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) age
where people are educated with the aid of advanced technology and
design. India too has moved into the TED world where information is being shared
for speedy, strategic and global development of the people. The means
of information like TV channels, radio and newspaper still remain the
choice for most of the Indians but Internet has now revolutionized the
way of being connected and fulfilling our other desires. It is now
catching and replacing the traditional means of information
like a pandemic virus engulfing all those who come in contact with it
once. Internet has made its domain in the cell phones that we use.
Believe it or not, the fact is that India is currently the largest
buyer of cell phones in the world leaving behind countries like US and
China. So should we consider that we have most easily available sources
of information available with us? Not at all.

India is a country with around 1.3 billion people and is going to take over China by 2034. It is the largest democracy
and is the land of diversity. At the same time, India is also a land of
paradox i.e. what we say about India, the opposite is also true.
Despite the reach of the cell phones and TV channels to the utmost
remote villages in India, the gap between the rich and the poor remains
the same. You can see the pity of India when you visit some villages,
slums, remote areas with no access to electricity, railway stations —
having backyard of temples with beggars, rickshaw pullers sleeping in
their vehicles overnight etc. All this contradicts the talks of India
being the next big super power.

The need of the hour is to make important information available to
the young rural populace so that they could help transform their lives
and their livelihood. Here are some tips for those willing to transform
his/her land of birth, neglected due to the lack of proper knowledge,
information and choice of work.

1. The educated people of the village who have obtained higher
degrees and migrated for better jobs must get back to their homelands
and disseminate the essential information in order to develop the
villages.

2. Organizations should be formed by the visitors with the help of
local people to share and solve the problems of the areas. One such
example of an extremely successful organization is The Barefoot College that has transformed a village Tilonia into a self-sustaining development model.

3. Means of communication which are true, affordable and healthy for
the downtrodden people should be introduced in order to make education
available to them in the most understandable way. Rural press in one such example.

4. Farmers must be taught how to take up farming as an entrepreneurial venture.
It should be made more interesting and marketing and production
strategies must be introduced by way of simple and local communication,
easy to comprehend.

5. Employment news and Government new plans schemes plus subsidies
that our government provides for specific initiatives should be
explained to them in their local language for effective utilization of
these opportunities by the villagers.

A lot more information needs to be communicated to the neglected
people about the current events, problems faced and the near future of
India and the world. Let us begin taking action ourselves and bring on
the change. Are you ready?