Page 34 - ICDL 2019 - Background Paper
P. 34
Digital Convergence at the Bottom of the Pyramid
Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) have opened up uncommon opportunities in rural areas for
improving the quality of both the natural environment and human well being. ICTs will be most meaningful to rural
families, if generic information is converted into a location specific one. If properly designed, ICTs can help reach ‘the
unreached’ in terms of knowledge and skill empowerment and convert the vast scientific know how, now available,
into field-level do how.
Any kind of transformation in society can be brought with the help of knowledge and that, too, if provided at the grass-
roots level and relevant to the situation. Urban and rural communities have a different level of access to information.
Though this access is very limited in rural areas because of some hurdles, some villages are lucky enough as they can
access information through certain initiatives taken by the government and NGOs.
Among all, one very good project that has been developed to provide the latest information to farmers about
agriculture, covering topics from crop production to marketing, is the formation of the Village Knowledge Centre
(VKC). Apart from furnishing agriculture-centric information, VKCs also provide training and conduct workshops for
rural communities. Information regarding how to start a small business and ways to increase household income is
also imparted to farmers through VKCs.
28
Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) have opened up uncommon opportunities in rural areas for
improving the quality of both the natural environment and human well being. ICTs will be most meaningful to rural
families, if generic information is converted into a location specific one. If properly designed, ICTs can help reach ‘the
unreached’ in terms of knowledge and skill empowerment and convert the vast scientific know how, now available,
into field-level do how.
Any kind of transformation in society can be brought with the help of knowledge and that, too, if provided at the grass-
roots level and relevant to the situation. Urban and rural communities have a different level of access to information.
Though this access is very limited in rural areas because of some hurdles, some villages are lucky enough as they can
access information through certain initiatives taken by the government and NGOs.
Among all, one very good project that has been developed to provide the latest information to farmers about
agriculture, covering topics from crop production to marketing, is the formation of the Village Knowledge Centre
(VKC). Apart from furnishing agriculture-centric information, VKCs also provide training and conduct workshops for
rural communities. Information regarding how to start a small business and ways to increase household income is
also imparted to farmers through VKCs.
28
