ICT4D
Context
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The pervasive growth of ICTs in all developmental sectors (education, health, economic development, environment, human rights and governance) has given rise to many new untapped opportunities. But many new divides and inequalities have also emerged, accompanied by newer forms of discrimination, oppression and manipulation by individual and institutional elites.
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India has been home to many ICT4D endeavours, such as Bhoomi, Grameen Gyan Abhiyan, ITC eChoupal, and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. While Internet technologies enable greater participation by weaker sections of society in the market place and in the process of governance, they still face many challenges (financial, environmental, infrastructural, technical, social and political) in fully realizing the emancipatory potential of the Internet.
Research Agenda
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Investigate, document and analyse the socio-economic and other consequences of ICT4D projects. Research innovations in technology for enhancing usability, human-machine interfaces, process re-engineering etc.
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Research new pedagogic techniques using ICTs. Conduct comparative analysis of devices and applications which enable inclusive education, affordable and viable solutions for computer and Internet access to all students, irrespective of economic status, development or geography. Enable teachers and academicians with evidence of effective use of technology for improving the quality of teaching. Propose mechanisms to streamline public exams and board exams so as to provide greater transparency, clarity, homogeneity and fairness into the entire examination system. Document the use of Internet technologies in administrative and procedural activities of academic institutions.
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Evaluate and suggest possible improvements to “information activism” by various social groups and networks representing women, the poor, Dalits, tribals, sexual minorities, the disabled and illiterate persons etc. For example – farmsubsidy.org and theyworkforyou.com
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Explore technologies and systemic changes that improve the accessibility, accountability and transparency of the government e-governance efforts. For example – data-mining of e-governance data, watchdog.net
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Explore and extend use of ICTs in efforts to protect the environment, such as green mapping, collaborative monitoring of climate change, distributed monitoring of rainfall etc.
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Document and design ways in which ICTs can help to streamline the health care systems in villages, by using health indicators to monitor and track immunizations, epidemics etc.
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Document the use of ICT in protecting human rights—especially women, children, disabled persons, sex workers, ethnic groups, sexual minorities, etc. Understand how Dalits and tribals establish their identity on the Internet.
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Interrogate and question the rationale for sustainability of ICT4D projects in far flung areas. Design and propose new models for sustainability for connectivity and access to knowledge.
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Investigate the role for Internet and ICTs in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, and the Right to Information Act.
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Examine the role of ICT in providing banking services to the “unbanked.” Document the use of Internet and ICT by micro-finance and micro-credit organizations and networks.
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Examine the role of Internet and ICTs in enabling the participation of small farmers, artisans and cooperatives in local, national, regional and international markets. Contribute to the development and use of technologies like fair trade systems, price information systems and mechanisms for consolidated buying and selling.
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Document the role played by the Internet and ICTs in formal and informal remittance flows from expatriates and from migrant labourers in cities.
References
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ICT for education magazine http://www.ictforeducation.co.uk/
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ICT at work in microfinance in Asia
