Page 177 - ITU Kaleidoscope 2016

ICTs for a Sustainable World

informatics / knowledge, 3) Economic empowerment and price Internet access out of reach for the majority of people
small scale entrepreneurship, 4) Policies, strategies and e- are neither socially nor economically efficient. Liberalizing
governance [9, 11]. the telecommunications industry is not enough; the state
However, ICT interventions for rural transformation are also has to facilitate strategic investments, subsidizing
more than just making people “literate” in ICT and making access for underserved communities and implementing
it accessible. Björn-Sören Gigler shows [12] that there is a effective and transparent regulations, including open
gap between information and communications access to subsidized infrastructure [14]. In several
technologies (ICTs) and socio-economic development. In developing countries, “Free Basics” by Facebook or
this paper, he has shown that, if information is critical to similar initiatives provide people with access to useful
development, then ICTs, as a means of sharing services on their mobile phones for free without data
information, are not simply a connection between people, charges. However, in India, these kinds of services are
but a link in the chain of the development process itself. banned to favor net-neutrality. Hence, active participation
ICTs can enhance the functioning of markets because it of all stakeholders in hammering out a concrete plan of
can properly integrate and bind the floating market action is perhaps the single most important step to move
components into static contents in order to provide a from high prices and low uptake to low prices and high
sustainable model. demand [14].
Much of the 'ICT promise' for rural transformation has 3. PROBLEMS FACED BY SHG
been expressed in terms of the power of information and
knowledge. However, information and knowledge In order to design an information system following an
transactions, especially with dis-empowered people and endogenous model of development, we should move
groups, are a complex process. It is generally not amenable towards a more citizen and service-centric approach,
to across-the-counter productization and monetization. beginning with a needs analysis: what are the needs, who
Only some kinds of information – like agriculture price for, how to develop solutions, where the services need to
information, health related information, etc. can be be delivered and how they can be accessed. In this context,
delivered usefully through a rural kiosk-based model. Most we have conducted both primary and secondary studies to
other information and knowledge transactions are much identify the problems faced by SHGs in order to derive
more human interaction intensive and require to be done in system specification of our NCoRe system.
an altruistic and community-minded spirit [7]. A simple
example is a poor destitute woman seeking help against Our secondary study [15, 16] reveals the following set of
domestic violence. There is no digital platform for her problems faced by SHGs in India:
using which she can seek help and get advisory support 1. Ignorance of Members/Participants: Majority of the
from the external world. group are unaware of the schemes of assistance
offered to them. Many are Ignorant about the scheme.
2.2 The Endogenous Model 2. Inadequate Training Facilities: The training given
to the members of SHGs are inadequate
The endogenous approach is based on an understanding 3. Problems Related to Raw Materials: Normally each
that the most important impact related to ICTs and their SHG procures raw materials individually from the
use are caused not by the technology, but by the new forms suppliers. They purchase raw materials in smaller
of informational behavior they facilitate. These new quantities and hence they may not be able to enjoy the
behaviors enable new connections to be made, which may benefits of large-scale purchase like discount, credit
offer the potential of new value and transformative change facilities etc. Most of the SHGs are ignorant about the
to be created in the social, political, and cultural spheres, as major raw material suppliers and their terms and
well as in the economic [10]. conditions. All these causes high cost of raw materials.
4. Problems of Marketing: Following are the major
As concluded in the UNRISD workshop [13]: “it is a
serious mistake to assume that they constitute a uniform problems relating to marketing.
process globally or share a common destination, rather (a) Lack of sufficient orders.
than a variety of new processes each influencing and being (b) Lack of linkage with the marketing agencies.
influenced by the society in which they are taking place.” (c) Lack of adequate sales promotion measures.
ICT for development, therefore, in this approach is about (d) Lack of permanent market for the products
finding solutions to the informational challenges faced in (e) Absence of proper brand name.
the process of development. The core developmental (f) Poor/unattractive packing system.
challenge here is to make it community driven: encourage (g) Poor quality of products due to lack of quality
and support informational developments within the consciousness
communities themselves. (h) Lack of a well defined and well-knit channel of
distribution for marketing
2.3 The Digital Divide 5. Weak Financial Management: The return from the
business is not properly managed for further
Almost three in five of the world‟s people are still not investment due to lack of proper financial planning
connected to the Internet. This digital divide hampers 6. Low Return: The return on investment is not
economic and social progress. Broadband markets that attractive in certain groups due to inefficient

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