Baramati Initiative explores IT for common man

Monday, 02 June 2003, 19:30 IST
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BANGALORE: Indian expatriates believe information technology can move out of air-conditioned offices and be harnessed to serve the average man-on-the-road in the country. Baramati, an hour's drive outside the city of Pune, is hosting the third annual meet on "Information and communication technologies (ICTs) and development" between May 30 and June 2. Christened the "Baramati Initiative", these meetings have since 2001 focussed on "exploring ways in which information and communication technology is being used as a tool to empower the poor," organisers said. India has a considerable number of ICT experiments that try to harness these new technologies in a different direction from just earning profits, and to make a difference in the lives of millions. There is still some debate on what impact the use of this young technology is having on the left-out segments, but dramatic examples of the poor benefiting from computers, telephones or radio -- all examples of ICT use -- are already being reported. Akhtar Badshah, executive director of Seattle-based Digital Partners, said the meeting would emphasise the role of "social entrepreneurs" who are effectively using ICT in "opening new market-driven avenues for the poor to participate in e-governance, e-commerce and e-education". Social entrepreneurs from Africa and Latin America, besides Asia, are scheduled to participate in the meet. Special awards will be given to groups seen as doing good work in taking the benefits of ICT to the common man. Some issues to come up for scrutiny during the meet include whether village information kiosks and the once widely promoted "telecentres" are viable. Participants will include Ken Keniston of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, U.S. member of Congress Jay Inslee, USAID India director Walter North and former World Bank vice president Motoo Kusakabe.
Source: IANS
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