PLANNING FOR eGOVERNANCE IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION OF UTTARANCHAL STATE

Abstract

There is a myth under circulation that the Information Technology solution is anti poor and is an unaffordable luxury to nations like India. One has to only realize that Information Technology is 'only a tool' that influences the objective and if the objective is to make the system more transparent, open and accountable, there is no way it can be anti poor. Most of the rural areas suffer on account of lack of right information regarding the markets, products, agriculture, health, weather, education etc and if all this can be addressed through connectivity and Information Technology, a sea change can be brought in the conditions of the rural communities with the efficient and effective use of existing (physical) infrastructure. This is how creation of a knowledge and information economy can bring in more opportunities and thereby prosperity to the impoverished areas than any other rhetoric. This project makes an attempt to prioritise and connect the hilly and remote areas of Uttaranchal, so that these villages can become knowledge hubs to gain symbiotically from each other and derive benefits from the global networks.