Rural Access to Internet Services

Group No.- 02

Overview
The RASI project aims at the social, economic and political development of rural people by establishing a network of village Internet centers. In 2001, the original pilot initiative was launched in Melur, in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu in the name of Sustainable Access in Rural India (SARI). It was planned to cover all the districts of Tamil Nadu in a phased manner starting with 10 districts Madurai, Cuddalore, Coimbatore, Kancheepuram, Theni, Thiruvallur, Erode, Salem, Tirunelveli and Nagapattinam. Local entrepreneurs, Dhan Foundation a community-based NGO, local schools, and other public sector facilities house the computer facilities.

ICICI bank and a private agency n-Logue Communications Pvt. Ltd provided core financial support to the RASI project.
In Tamil Nadu, currently, the project covers 155 Village Information Centers run by Dhan Foundation and about 100 Centers by n-Logue Communications.
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Objective
Use a shared platform to deliver a variety of high quality services, allowing Internet access to be financially self sustaining or profitable while reaching the rural poor. Help markets to work by networking regions densely and creating a local network effect. Create and develop new access devices and applications to appropriately serve user needs and account for environmental conditions. Undertake research on RASIs impact on the existence of rural information and communication markets. Offer access to schools and health clinics at low or no cost, and help them learn to use it effectively. Value local champions and entrepreneurs and encourage their leadership; cooperate with residents and existing organizations.

Not to exacerbate existing divides or power inequities.

Technical Prerequisite
Software tools utilized-The main software deployed was the Chennai Kavigal Shakthi suite of applications. This application was a local language (Tamil) equivalent of the Microsoft Office suite. This was developed indigenously. Technology Model The connectivity technology made use of the indigenously developed corDECT wireless in Local Loop developed by the TeNeT group of IIT Madras and Midas Communications Private Ltd.

Category of basic Computing implemented in the Project

Category of basic Data Communication implemented in the Project.
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Design Map

Revenue Model
The business model was unique. It had n-Logue Communications tie up with a LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR (LSP) to set up an access center in a town such as Melur. Subsequently n-Logue would help the LSP run the access center and assist in selling connections and establishing village kiosks. The connected subscribers would pay the LSP for Internet connectivity. N-Logue and the LSP would share in the revenues after expenses were deducted. The major source of the income for entrepreneur comes from teaching computer education to children. The other source of income for the entrepreneur is through the services which are offering at the reasonable rate ranges from Rs. 40- Rs. 80.
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Sectors of ICT4D Project

Primary Sector- This project intends to show that the ICT4D objectives could be met using an entrepreneurship model such that village kiosks could be financially viable while delivering services in Health, Education, Employment and Livelihoods, Empowerment, Microfinance. Secondary Sector- Presently the project is looking at providing financial (rural ATM's), weather prediction, soil analysis, drought prediction, distance learning, establishing microenterprises, robotics and computer programming skills, in the long term.

Services Rendered
Value Web and Travel Services Agriculture Services

Mini Arasu

Kiosk

Health Services

Education and Jobs

Communication Services

Entertainment

Institutions & Stakeholders

IIT, Harvard & Georgia

Local Entrepreneur

ICICI Bank RASI Dhan Foundation Beneficiaries

Schools

N -Logue Comm

Local NGOs

Digital Divide
Dimensions Physical Access: Kiosks have been established in all the taluks of the state. Technical Illiteracy: Customization and Transact

Information Illiteracy: Diverse set of information's provided.

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Economic Dimension
Economic status was not found to be a major barrier to the use of ICT when the services are offered at lower costs. Inadequate training for Government officials to deliver eGovernment services electronically and the frequent shifting of those with technical expertise resulted in short-term sustenance of this initiative. Lack of internet connectivity in all government offices. lack of effective public leadership and sustained commitment; lack of proper evaluation and monitoring, especially for services that require coordination between different levels.
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Political Dimension
Weakening of support from the local bureaucracy due to lack of institutionalization and top-down approach to e-Government The local elected representatives were not found to be actively involved in the project.

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Spatial Dimensions
Access to kiosks unevenly distributed. Limited number of kiosks are working.

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Social Dimensions
Lack of motivation among kiosks operators. Rural women, younger age groups and the unemployed are proactive towards adaptability of information kiosk services.

35 out of 60 kiosks surveyed are either closed or nonfunctional. Also, the profile of users changed over a period of time in terms of literacy and nature of employment. As a result the benefits did not reach the target groups. The initial motivation of rural masses to avail of government services was diluted over the two years.
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Cultural Dimensions
The higher educational groups utilized e-Governance services to their benefits, the illiterates and the low educational groups have been left behind. This may be a cause for concern that it would further widen the digital divide.

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ICT4D Generation
ISSUE/PHASE ICT4D 0.0 (1960s mid 1990s)
PC Database Data Processing

ICT4D 1.0 ( Mid 90s late 2000s)

Telecentre Content and Interaction Consumers MDGs Readiness and Availability Donors & NGOs Idolise - Integrate Pro Poor- Para Poor IS & DS Human Development

ICT4D 2.0 (mid late- 2000 onwards)

Mobile Phones Services & Production Innovators & Producers Growth & Development Uptake & Impact All Sectors Integrate- Innovate Para Poor- Per Poor Tribid of CS, IS and DS Development 2.0
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Iconic Technology Key Application

The Poor Key Goal Key Issue Key Actor Attitude Innovation Model Dominant Discipline
Development Paradigm

Who? Organizational Efficiency Technologys Potential Government Ignore- Isolate Northern Information Systems Modernization

Impact Assessment Framework- Telecentre

Implementation

Availability

Output

Outcome

During

Immediately after

Shortly after

Sometime later

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Project Genesis
Sustainability: To understand the key revenue streams of the kiosks and take this knowledge to other kiosks. Scalability: The knowledge gained from this pilot have enabled n-Logue to set up nearly 30 other access centers establish over 1500 connections. Economic Sustainability: The model have comfort zone for the economic perspective.

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Summary
Internet-kiosk based initiatives promises an easy and equal access in hardto-reach areas deprived of basic infrastructure and Internet access. Causes for kiosk project failures were not technical issues but are political and institutional problems and planning failures. An important reason for the deterioration of the e-Government services offered by RASI was the continually dwindling support from the bureaucracy.

For Sustainability long-term business planning, strategic management, and stakeholder partnership in future kiosk development.

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