In the modern and emerging economic scenario the impact and significance of the
Information and
communication technology
has emerged as an important tool for growth. Information and
communication Technology (ICT) has various challenges in the developing countries like India. The challenges for disseminating ICT includes Illiteracy, poverty, multiple languages, poor education quality, less computer knowledge, and poor infrastructure etc. The ability of the governments (Center and state) in order to disseminate the information in rural and semi urban areas is not yet reached the maximum mark. The connectivity between growth and information technology need to be realized by the farming and rural small business community.
In this paper I tried to examine, how Economic growth of a country is influenced by information and communication technology with respect to India. This article has two sections. First section deals with the challenges and obstacles of ICT in rural communities and second section does focus on experience of Indian economy since 1991 with respect to information and communication technology.
Growth of an Economy is not only based on aggregate demand and aggregate supply of economic factors, but also depending on how communication technology is well established and scattered in the country. Through ICT, connectivity between one sectors to another could be made easier. The farmers need to be given major concern. The information regarding market, prices, supply, demand and governmental policies have to be well made available in the rural and semi urban areas. On the other hand small business people and investors at rural and semi urban areas have to be made aware of the issues like stock market growth, potential business opportunities and competition among various business activities.
Further this paper makes an attempt to focus on impact of ICT in the context of Globalization, and discuss some major ICT initiatives in India. Sustainable growth needs favorable economic environment where information should be spread across the country, irrespective of people’s economic status.
References: The diffusion of the internet and rural development (2006), Zhao Jinqiu, Hao Xiaoming and Indrajit Banerjee.Developing IT networks in rural India (2005), Vijay kumar, Appa Rao, L. Pratap Reddy Information and communication technologies and sustainable development (2005), Amrita SinghWarana: The case of an Indian rural community adopting ICT (2004), Simone Cecchini, Monica Rainawww.maharashtra.gov.orgUnited nations development programme (UNDP), 1991. Human development report. Oxford University press. New York.