Bridging the Rural Digital Divide

This article describes the growing popularity of community computer and internet kiosks as
a means of delivering "information and communication technologies (ICTs) to rural communities in
developing countries." While there are, according to the author, over 600 such kiosks in Tamil Nadu alone,
the benefits may be reaching primarily the wealthier and more educated members
of the communities they seek to serve. Women and members of
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) households are
particularly likely to be left behind.



The author lists four reasons for this socio-economic and gender gap in kiosk usage:

1. People perceive the kiosks as complex, and may feel only the educated can understand how to use them. Additionally, women
   often lack the "independence, the decision making power, and financial resources to make use of
   the kiosk services fully."
2. Notification of community members about kiosk services has focused on
   those households in the higher socio-economic strata.
3. The expense of using the kiosks is too high for most households.
4. Kiosks tend to be located in high-income neighbourhoods.

The author provides suggestions for bridging the socio-economic
and gender gaps:

1. Ensure using the kiosks provides a "relative advantage", by making
   them faster and cheaper, or by increasing the delivery of e-government services.
2. Reach women and SC/ST households through
   more effective communication, including mass media and wider canvassing of
   households.
3. Appoint women as kiosk operators.
4. Provide localised content.
5. Consider charging lower income customers less to use kiosks.
6. Move kiosks closer to SC/ST communities.