Public information kiosks for inspiring rural change in India

摘要

As the Finance Minister of India pointed out in his budget speech of the year 2000, over 30 per cent of the rural population live below the poverty line, 40 per cent of the 600,000 villages in India are without proper roads; 180,000 villages do nothave a primary school within 1 km distance; 450,000 villages have drinking water problems and 140,000 dwelling units are in short supply besides inadequate health, education and employment opportunities. Adding to the above, a variety of structural disadvantages and disparities like illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty, caste complications exist in the Indian society. Consequently the information needs of rural areas relating to the basic needs, economic, educational or recreational needs as given below, are neither being properly assessed nor met. Basic needs include facilities for health care, water supply, shelter, sanitation and other amenities. These are desired right at the doorsteps of households. Economic needs depend on the information on how toproduce better crops, where to sell the produce and other market information. Educational needs mainly centre around provision of affordable text books, teaching aids for education and continuing education. Based on the above needs, the information needsarise and the rural people look for, where to find what, who is who in their locality, and services in the village or utilities available in the nearest town. Finally the recreational needs fulfil the much needed diversion from the routine and to continue with traditional art forms. Creation of sports facilities and organisation of cultural activities are grouped under these needs (FAO, 2000).