E-Governance in Rural India

In India approximately 70% of Indian population live in rural area. Today rural development is essential for the development of the Indian Economy. The necessity of harnessing science and technology for transforming rural India has long been recognized. Mahatma Gandhiji had clearly shown an appreciation of this necessity. As early as 1935, at the all India Village industries association. There is now the average rural Indian whose life has been touched by technology has changed for better. In today Information and communication Technologies (ICT) has brought remarkable change in the lives of people in every respect also enabling government to deliver better services even at remotest corners of the country. Various ICT applications have designed specifically for the people residing in rural areas of the country. Ministry of Rural Development has taken various initiatives at different levels by way of strengthening the ICT infrastructure to provide opportunities, information and easy access of the rural development schemes to all citizens in rural India. Such development has facilitated access to innumerable services and information in a very economical manner in a scenario where the cost of accessing information has been a biggest hurdle for the poor farmers. Through ICT, several e-governance initiatives have been adopted which have ultimately proved to be major contributor in rural development.