8/2/2019 Rasi Final

1/19

Rural Access to Internet Services

Group No.- 02

1

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

2/19

Overview

The RASI project aims at the social, economic and political development of rural

people by establishing a network of village Internet centers.

In 2001, the original pilot initiative was launched in Melur, in Madurai district of

Tamil Nadu in the name of Sustainable Access in Rural India (SARI).

It was planned to cover all the districts of Tamil Nadu in a phased manner starting

with 10 districts Madurai, Cuddalore, Coimbatore, Kancheepuram, Theni,Thiruvallur, Erode, Salem, Tirunelveli and Nagapattinam.

Local entrepreneurs, Dhan Foundationa community-based NGO, local schools,

and other public sector facilities house the computer facilities.

ICICI bank and a private agency n-Logue Communications Pvt. Ltd provided core

financial support to the RASI project.

In Tamil Nadu, currently, the project covers 155 Village Information Centers run by

Dhan Foundation and about 100 Centers by n-Logue Communications. 2

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

3/19

Objective Use a shared platform to deliver a variety of high quality services, allowing Internet

access to be financially self sustaining or profitable while reaching the rural poor.

Help markets to work by networking regions densely and creating a local network

effect.

Create and develop new access devices and applications to appropriately serve user

needs and account for environmental conditions.

Undertake research on RASIs impact on the existence of rural information and

communication markets.

Offer access to schools and health clinics at low or no cost, and help them learn touse it effectively.

Value local champions and entrepreneurs and encourage their leadership; cooperate

with residents and existing organizations.

Not to exacerbate existing divides or power inequities.3

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

4/19

Technical Prerequisite

Software tools utilized-The main software deployed was the Chennai

Kavigal Shakthi suite of applications. This application was a local

language (Tamil) equivalent of the Microsoft Office suite. This was

developed indigenously.

Technology Model-

The connectivity technology made use of the indigenously developed

corDECT wireless in Local Loop developed by the TeNeT group of IIT

Madras and Midas Communications Private Ltd.

Category of basic Computing implemented in the Project

Category of basic Data Communication implemented in the Project.

4

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

5/19

Design Map

5

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

6/19

Revenue Model

The business model was unique. It had n-Logue Communications tie up

with a LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR (LSP) to set up an access center in a

town such as Melur. Subsequently n-Logue would help the LSP run the

access center and assist in selling connections and establishing village

kiosks. The connected subscribers would pay the LSP for Internet

connectivity. N-Logue and the LSP would share in the revenues after

expenses were deducted.

The major source of the income for entrepreneur comes from teaching

computer education to children.

The other source of income for the entrepreneur is through the services

which are offering at the reasonable rate ranges from Rs. 40- Rs. 80.

6

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

7/19

Sectors of ICT4D Project

Primary Sector- This project intends to show that the ICT4D

objectives could be met using an entrepreneurship model such

that village kiosks could be financially viable while delivering

services in Health, Education, Employment and Livelihoods,

Empowerment, Microfinance.

Secondary Sector- Presently the project is looking at providing

financial (rural ATM's), weather prediction, soil analysis,

drought prediction, distance learning, establishing micro-

enterprises, robotics and computer programming skills, in thelong term.

7

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

8/19

Services Rendered

Kiosk

Mini Arasu

Education and

Jobs

Health

Services

Agriculture

Services

Entertainment

Communication

Services

Value Web andTravel

Services

8

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

9/19

Institutions & Stakeholders

RASI

Local

Entrepreneur

Beneficiaries

Local NGOsN -Logue

CommSchools

Dhan

Foundation

ICICI Bank

IIT,

Harvard &

Georgia

9

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

10/19

Digital Divide

Dimensions-

Physical Access: Kiosks have been established in all the

taluks of the state.

Technical Illiteracy: Customization and Transact

Information Illiteracy: Diverse set of information's

provided.

10

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

11/19

Economic Dimension

Economic status was not found to be a major barrier to the use of

ICT when the services are offered at lower costs.

Inadequate training for Government officials to deliver e-

Government services electronically and the frequent shifting ofthose with technical expertise resulted in short-term sustenance

of this initiative.

Lack of internet connectivity in all government offices. lack ofeffective public leadership and sustained commitment; lack of

proper evaluation and monitoring, especially for services

that require coordination between different levels.

11

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

12/19

Political Dimension

Weakening of support from the local bureaucracy due to lack

of institutionalization and top-down approach to

e-Government

The local elected representatives were not found to be

actively involved in the project.

12

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

13/19

Spatial Dimensions

Access to kiosks unevenly distributed.

Limited number of kiosks are working.

13

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

14/19

Social Dimensions

Lack of motivation among kiosks operators.

Rural women, younger age groups and the unemployed are

proactive towards adaptability of information kiosk services.

35 out of 60 kiosks surveyed are either closed or

nonfunctional. Also, the profile of users changed over a period

of time in terms of literacy and nature of employment. As aresult the benefits did not reach the target groups. The initial

motivation of rural masses to avail of government services

was diluted over the two years.

14

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

15/19

Cultural Dimensions

The higher educational groups utilized e-Governance

services to their benefits, the illiterates and the low

educational groups have been left behind. This may be a cause

for concern that it would further widen the digital divide.

15

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

16/19

ICT4D GenerationISSUE/PHASE ICT4D 0.0

(1960s mid

1990s)

ICT4D 1.0 ( Mid 90s

late 2000s)

ICT4D 2.0 (mid

late- 2000

onwards)

Iconic Technology PC Database Telecentre Mobile Phones

Key Application Data Processing Content and

Interaction

Services &

Production

The Poor Who? Consumers Innovators &

Producers

Key Goal Organizational

Efficiency

MDGs Growth &

Development

Key Issue Technologys

Potential

Readiness and

Availability

Uptake & Impact

Key Actor Government Donors & NGOs All Sectors

Attitude Ignore- Isolate Idolise - Integrate Integrate- Innovate

Innovation Model Northern Pro Poor- Para Poor Para Poor- Per Poor

Dominant Discipline Information

Systems

IS & DS Tribid of CS, IS

and DS

Development Paradigm Modernization Human Development Development 2.016

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

17/19

Impact Assessment Framework- Telecentre

Implementation

Availability Output Outcome

DuringImmediately

after

Shortly

after Sometimelater

17

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

18/19

Project Genesis

Sustainability: To understand the key revenue streams of the kiosks

and take this knowledge to other kiosks.

Scalability: The knowledge gained from this pilot have enabled

n-Logue to set up nearly 30 other access centers establish over 1500connections.

Economic Sustainability: The model have comfort zone for the

economic perspective.

18

8/2/2019 Rasi Final

19/19

Summary

Internet-kiosk based initiatives promises an easy and equal access in hard-

to-reach areas deprived of basic infrastructure and Internet access.

Causes for kiosk project failures were not technical issues but are political

and institutional problems and planning failures.

An important reason for the deterioration of the e-Government services

offered by RASI was the continually dwindling support from

the bureaucracy.

For Sustainability long-term business planning, strategic management,

and stakeholder partnership in future kiosk development.

19