ROLE OF ICT IN RURAL EMPOWERMENT

Abstract ICT acts as an gauge of the development of any society in this knowledge era. In order to take full advantage of the changing global agricultural scenario interconnecting of policies related to pricing, marketing and trading of agricultural commodities has become paramount. Simultaneously there is also need to review and revitalize the mechanism for transfer of technology under the trend towards liberalizing telecommunication marketplaces in favor of competitive, multi-service provider, multi-service marketplaces. Various forces are at work for rural development and modernization of agriculture sector. Any ICT intervention that improves the livelihoods of poor rural families would likely to have significant direct and indirect impacts on enhancing agricultural production, marketing and post-harvest activities ,which in turn can further contribute to poverty reduction& rural empowerment. The Extension system of modern information and communication technology facilitates better dialogue between researchers, extension workers and their farmer clients to transfer technologies and information more cost effectively. Knowledge management with regard to new techniques and innovations of farming, new methods of cultivation, new crops, seeds, pesticides, water and nutrient management and marketing of the product, government policies regarding agriculture, use of fertilizers for better productivity, crop pest management measures, advice on crop rotation to sustain soil fertility, export potential of their crops, information about the allied activities like dairy, apiculture, piggery, poultry, fish farming, mushroom cultivation and weather information on local and regional level, etc can be managed by amalgamating ICT’s technology e.g. Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) utilizing GIS. Now a day, Information& Communication Technology has become the most important currency for productivity, competitiveness, and increased wealth and prosperity. Nations have placed greater priority on developing their human capital. The power of connectivity can transform the prevailing ailing system and can empower rural poor with the power of information, which can be converted into knowledge and further to wealth generation. In India where rural economy is heavily dependent on the agriculture, improved technology can achieve its purpose only if it is effectively transferred to and adopted by farmers as well as rural or urban poor. Effective technologies and knowledge management can result in higher agricultural production and increased net incomes of farming families, which has a positive impact on rural poverty.This paper presents a brief review of the technologies, the rural ICT projects and the issues associated with the use of ICT for rural development &discuss impact of ICT on rural development and sustainability. The finding indicates that ICT used must be adequate to the skills of the poor in order to utilize their potential effectively through poverty reduction and rural development.Since ownership by the local communities, partnership and networking are essential to effective development programmes. This paper also reflects on e-powering rural India and effects of ICT projects on poverty reduction and finally their empowerment. Key words:-ICT,e-powering,Rural Poverty,Rural development,Rural empowerment,Rural ICT Projects