ICT for Rural Development: An Inclusive Framework for e-Governance

Review of literature shows that intervention of information and communication technologies (ICT) in rural development initiatives are capable of development, but are not successful.  Lack of community participation, absence of an integrated approach and non-inclusion of traditional knowledge systems (TKS) in the project designs are the major impediments.  We therefore suggest a systems-based approach in the design of e-Governance projects, and brief some future directions.  The proposed framework is based on participatory approach with inclusion of relevant TKS, has a bi-directional Citizen to Government (G2C2G) interface and a feedback mechanism.  The prime goal is that rural e-Governance projects serve as means to attain good-governance for enhancing sustained rural development.