Title: 'e-Grama': a tool for capacity building and bridging the digital divide in rural India

Authors: Rama Krushna Das, Manas Ranjan Patra

Addresses: National Informatics Centre, Office of RDC-SD, Courtpeta, Berhampur, 760004, Orissa, India. ' Department of Computer Science, Berhampur University, Berhampur, 760007, Orissa, India

Abstract: This paper puts forth our experience while implementing the |e-Grama| project in one of the relatively developed districts of Orissa Province in India which was later extended to other underdeveloped districts of the province. Further the paper describes how the project helped as a tool to bridge the digital divide and capacity building in the rural areas. It also highlights the role of youth clubs and NGOs in the successful implementation of the project. Further, it is shown how the problems encountered during project implementation in the rural areas could be solved through the public–private–people partnership model of |e-Grama|.

Keywords: digital divide; e-governance; e-literacy; capacity building; intranet; e-Grama; electronic governance; India; rural areas; electronic literacy; youth clubs; NGOs; non-governmental organisations; ICT.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2010.038609

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2010 Vol.3 No.4, pp.414 - 423

Published online: 13 Feb 2011 *

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