ICT4D in Channelling Welfare Services in India: Case Study of Haqdarshak

摘要

In 2015 Digital India project was launched to improve governance by employing information and communication technologies (ICTs). The ICT-led reform espouses to transform India into a digitally empowered society where electronic public services are accessible via web and mobile. Despite outstanding achievements in the ICT sector there are over 200 million people that live below the poverty line in India. In past decades several welfare schemes have been initiated to promote equitable development. However, due to the prevalent information divide, these schemes suffer to reach those at the bottom of the pyramid. This paper attempts to contextualise ICT4D in India within the sustainable development perspective. It tries to examine the potential ICTs offer to the marginalised sections of India. The paper presents a case study of social enterprise Haqdarshak that uses artificial intelligence to channelise social welfare schemes.