ROLE OF ICT IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: A CRITIQUE

by Sudhiti Naskar

Abstract:
The usage of information and communication technology (ICT) is increasingly being seen as a major tool for development. In a huge country like India, this has deeper significances as the ICT enabled services can be used as an alternative to the government services where the latter cannot reach directly to the citizens. However, taking ICT as a solution for various challenges in context to development has its own set of problematics. While India is increasingly appreciated globally for its magnificent growth in the IT sector, a striking majority of people are grossly under privileged without even basic access to modern technologies. Researches show we are a nation fraught with worst kind of digital divide. In such a scenario, it is imperative to weigh the feasibility of using ICT as a tool for sustainable development. This paper looks into these problems, seeking to present a critique of the ongoing projects and suggests an alternative.

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