Rajnikant George

Recent studies have proved that rural kiosks help villagers improve their standard of living by expanding livelihood options and empowering them with information, tools, goods and services (such as education and healthcare)

A kiosks can defined as an electronic device that provides information (via display) is interactive in nature (a multimedia combination) and allows for input (via an input device such as a touch- screen or a keyboard). The kiosks is unique form of a standard personal computer as it is created for specific user and for a specific purpose and is owned , controlled and operated by the deployed

There are more than 150 rural PC Kiosk projects across India with diverse goals, models and operating paradigms which are being initiated by different agencies like large enterprises, entrepreneurs, universities, government and NGOs. Their aims are as diverse as commercial profit making, driving socio economic growth, improving governance and other.

Large enterprise Community oriented entrepreneurial

project Government-led initiative (e-

governance )

Application category Range of services

E- government Online forms , filling of petitions and grievances, applying for licenses, birth certificate etc.

Education Computer skills training , result of entrance test , DTP

Communication Wireless connectivity-phone, VOIP, E-mail , chat

Livelihood enhancement Information provision related to production, marketing, products and consultation with exports on various livelihoods, agricutural price, veterinary etc

The minimum cost for a single Kiosk installation is typically around Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 including hardware and software

Infrastructural obstacles many villages only have power for few hours a

day and telephone land lines coverage is inadequate. These problems are most easily handled with hardware solution however add to total start up cost for Kiosk (up to 1,00,000)

Skilled Kiosk operators Kiosks are sensitive to location and

population density (Min population 5000) Power management (batteries, solar

power, UPS and generators ) Connectivity like VAST(n-logue’s ,

corDECT) WiFi and WiMAX Local language

ITCs e-Choupal EID-Parry (tamil Nadu) ICICI rural banking (micro finance) HUL (shakti project ) i- kishan etc

AKSHAYA Project , Kerala (100% computer literate )

BHOOMI , Karnataka ( citizen land records accessible online and through kiosk)

E- seva, A.P etc .

Spum-off (IT service company )Goal : “connecting India village by

village” TARA haat Aim: to help develop rural communities

through internet based service

Kiosk bring first PC to a village Help to build the trust between village

and organization Social cohesion Increased opportunity for women (most

kiosk users women) Empowering livelihood

Despite various application the sustainability of the rural Kiosk is a major concern.

The average monthly income at kiosk is approx. Rs. 2000 per month.

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