This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

The Social and Political Challenges of Akshaya

Rural Kiosks

Renee KuriyanEnergy and Resources Group

University of California, BerkeleyOctober 29, 2005

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

OverviewStudy Area Introduction to AkshayaResearch methodsChallenges for Kiosks

StateEntrepreneurs

Conclusions

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Study Area: Kerala

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Study Area: KeralaKerala Model of developmentSustainability problemsTwo alliances

UDF & LDF/ Communist Party of India (Marxist)

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Study Area: Malappuram District of Kerala

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Malappuram District Facts

Area of 3550 km2

Population 3.64 million people60% of population

MuslimHighest number of people living abroad in Kerala

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Akshaya Project BackgroundGrassroots beginningShared access model- telecentersPublic-private partnershipGoals

Bridge digital divideProvide e-governance servicesUniversal access

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Akshaya Project BackgroundInitially 630 centersServe 1000 households eachNow- 435 centersE-literacy phase

65% women

Roll out of project

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

State StrategyDual Strategy:

Social DevelopmentFinancial Sustainability

State’s aims:Provide accessProvide information in local languageAwareness of IT for citizens

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

State StrategyState’s role

E-literacy, training, establish connectivityInfrastructure

Entrepreneur’s roleAwareness, business strategy, provide services and applications

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Research Methods

Ethnographic approachInterviews

HouseholdsEntrepreneursPanchayat membersAkshaya project staff

3 centers

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Challenges for State

Balance the pressures of the dual goals

Redistributive pressures from CPM and classed based interests for the ‘masses’Pressures from Kerala’s ‘financial sustainability’ crisisPolitics of Muslim league and CPM

Many contradictions associated with dual goals

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Challenges for StateOther rural kiosk projects in India (link financial sustainability with project success)

financial sustainability, business plans, and business principles

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Challenges for StateImplement ICT kiosks as “development project”

IT dissemination to the masses

Recruit entrepreneurs Business driven aspects & expectations of government

Risk of political criticism (excluding masses)

Branding as Development Project and Achieving Business Goals Are Difficult

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Challenges for Entrepreneurs

2 PopulationsNeed Development assistance Can contribute to making the rural kiosks profitable

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Challenges for EntrepreneursAkshaya name vs.

private sectorImages associated with poor

Branding for both populations is the challenge

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

ConclusionsEven in a place like Kerala with strong redistributive principlesTendency for the state to adopt an ICT strategy that promotes private sector participation and sustainability of kiosks

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

ConclusionsSubstantial government supportDifficult to make rural telecenters both financially sustainable and also socially oriented

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

ConclusionsAkshaya project straddles both goals, yet is not fully achieving either in its implementation

Financial Sustainability Social Development Goals

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Challenges to ConsiderIntegration of dual goals and provision of more relevant applicationsPublic private partnership-shift in history of development in KeralaTransition is slow

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Positive Note

Widespread awareness of ICTs and basic training in the Malappuram District

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0326582.

Thank YouAdvisors: Isha Ray and Dan KammenEric BrewerKentaro Toyama and Microsoft Research IndiaAkshaya project officials, entrepreneurs and people of Malappuram DistrictTier Group