IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Recently, the Reliance group had been in negotiations with co-operative departmental stores to leverage their strengths in its new mega retail venture. The competitive strengths of the cooperative networks are being increasingly recognised.

But more importantly, the principles of equity along with economic growth are embodied in the basic co-operative structures, and hence the co-operative way is the natural way for rural development, and for reducing disparities.

Recognising the urgency of rural development, Government has re-affirmed its commitment to development of rural India. It has announced the REGP towards generating rural employment, and the “Bharat Nirman” programme towards development of Rural Infrastructure. President Kalam, has been talking about his dream of “Mission 2007: Every village a Knowledge Center” and implementing PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Ambience) model of rural development. PURA model is founded on the principle that connectivities to a region are the catalyst to its development. So, paramount first step, towards the eventual goal of strong rural development, is to connect the villages, leveraging technology. That is the mission now.

Co-operatives are quite well placed to contribute their mite to the mission. Their linkages can be leveraged to take technology and connectivity to grassroots, as reciprocally technology can be leveraged to strengthen their activities towards rural development. Warana “wired” village project, with a backdrop of cooperative environment, is one of early experiments to have demonstrated how Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can lead to rural development.

A shining example of marriage of technology with co-operative linkages for real grass roots transformation is Amul. Its manufacturing facilities are a point of envy for corporates from the western world, and so are its IT enabled logistics. Can the success, in nature of Amul, be replicated towards connecting up villages at large?

The task of connecting up villages will have to leverage not only technology but also the cooperative linkages, along with the accompanying dedication and attitudes of cooperative structures.

There has also been increasing widespread interest from all quarters in solving the problems of rural India using ICT. On technology front, there have been a continuing spectrum of initiatives and announcements from various quarters in using ICT towards development in rural. These range from earlier Simputers to recent $100 laptop, to serious efforts in designing low cost hardware and connectivity solutions, to a multitude of e-governance pilots. We require more players in putting together real solutions and implementing them in the field.

Autor(en)/Author(s): Mohan Mishra

Quelle/Source: The Financial Express, 09.10.2006