Information Society Watch

2006, Rajendra Kumar and Michael Best, The Journal of Community Informatics

In a study of social diffusion of telecentreuse in rural south India, the authors find that these centres are being used only by a relatively small proportion of the village households despite their having been in operation for well over a year. Based on a survey of the telecentre users, they find that these users are, in general, young, male, school or college students, relatively more educated, belong to relatively higher income households, and come from socially and economically advanced communities. Thus the telecentres may actually be sustaining the existing socioeconomic inequalities within these communities. However the authors find significant expections when telecentres are located close to the residential localities of socially and economically backward communities. This proximity was found to attract more users from those communities. Additionally, providing affordable localised content and services are other important factors in increasing usage and diffusion. Finally the authors posit that incorporating these factors in the planning, spatial location, and operation of the telecentres can significantly improve their social diffusion and improve their long-term financial and social sustainability (Adapted from authors).

Read full text