Title: An overview of growth in the ICT sector in India: can this growth be pro-poor?

Authors: Meera Tiwari

Addresses: International Development Studies, School of Social Sciences, Media and Cultural Studies, University of East London, Docklands Campus, 4-6 University Way, London E16 2RD, UK

Abstract: This paper reviews the ICT sector in India and explores the impact on rural poverty within the country. Given the early stages of its expansion, the literature on the impact of ICT on poverty reduction is at a rudimentary stage. The paper identifies issues critical to examining if ICT has implicit poverty reduction pathways. A discussion follows on who the poor are, what is their interface if any with the local ICT sector and what is meant by pro-poor growth. Possible transmission mechanisms of benefit from the ICT growth to the poor in India are then proposed.

Keywords: information technology; communications; ICT; rural poverty; pro-poor growth; India; poverty reduction.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2006.011110

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2006 Vol.3 No.4, pp.298 - 315

Published online: 16 Oct 2006 *

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