Pilot Project for use of IT for rural development
-Cost Rs. 25 million (50% National Informatics Centre, 40% Maharashtra Government, 10% Warna Cooperative)
-In 1 year, manned facilitation booths set up in 70 villages (with PCs & Modems, connected on LAN)
Highlights:
-Use of IT to improve efficiency of cooperatives (mainly Sugar and Milk / Dairy Products).
-Automatic Transactions by farmers on LAN.
-Various online registrations:
Driving Licence, Ration Card, Birth/death Certificates etc.
-Educational software being developed by NIC in 'Marathi' (local language).
-Web based Management of Sugarcane cultivation.
-Agricultural products market information system in Marathi.
-Dairy Information System, Data Entry done at collection centres (feed, quality, veterinary advice)
-Educational / Vocational Guidance.
Results:
-Income has gone up.
-No need for repeated travel to the sugar factories / collection centres.
Key Factor: “Revenue Model”
-Cooperative was prepared to own up: had 10% equity.
-Also maintained (salaries, consumables etc.)
Note: Telecom Infrastructure was one of the best (optical fibre existed) in Warna.
Featured in TIME magazine.
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