It is no exaggeration to say that India lives in its villages. This is why Mahatma Gandhi once said that Gram Swaraj is the pathway to Purna Swaraj. This publication is a timely one and will help to impart momentum to Mission 2007: Every Village a Knowledge Centre, so that rural knowledge connectivity becomes the flagship of the programmes to be organised to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Indias Independence on August 15, 2007.
M S Swaminathan
Chairman, National Commission on Farmers, Government of India
This is an invaluable book. Of the many inequalities that separate rich and poor in our world inequalities in access to information are among the most fundamental. They hold back human development, restrict opportunity and perpetuate local and global patterns of development that marginalise the poor. This book shows through practical examples how the knowledge divide can be narrowed in the interests of human development.
Kevin Watkins
Director, Human Development Report Office, UNDP
Taking ICT to Every Indian Village is a clear-eyed, thought-provoking treatment of a very important but complex subject. The authors offer an innovative analytical framework that nicely interweaves the dynamics of knowledge, empowerment, technology, and sustainable development
in order to illuminate the challenges and opportunities of bringing the information revolution down to the grassroots level. Highly recommended for anyone interested in ICT4D initiatives in India or in the developing world more generally.
William J. Drake
President, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
The Internet is the next-generation communication network. Over the last decade, pilot projects have demonstrated viable applications in areas ranging from education to entertainment. The time for trials and demonstrations has passed. Bringing high-speed Internet connectivity to every Indian village would improve the quality of life for a sizeable portion of mankind, and this book moves us toward that goal.
Larry Press
Professor of Computer Information Systems, California State University
|
