Development Communication and e-Governace
- Paper number
IAC-07-E3.I.01
- Author
Mr. Ashok Kumar Sangal, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Development communication and e-Governace AK sangal,Development Education Communication unit/ISRO, India
Development is a process of change to be set in motion and guided towards the objective of eradicating hunger, disease, illiteracy, injustice, exploitation and related aspects that afflict vast sections of the population. For some, development is handing over technology to the unskilled so that they can become more productive. For others, it is awakening the intellectual and decision-making potential of rural people where more than 70 people live, so that people can decide the nature of change in their very structure of society.
In trying to accelerate development, communication media can be a powerful tool in creating a “climate” for development. This, apart from communicating information, also stimulates action and sustain it. This can come through people’s participation, which will be enhanced by communication.
The role communication can play in rural development has four different aspects: (a) communication as persuasion; (b) communication as transmission of information; and (c) communication as people’s expression, social interaction and relationship. The changing approach to communication leads to significant changes in the thinking about rural development communication where majority of population lives in developing nations by;
§ More participation of masses and the specific information dessemination to targetted audience. Through dialogue the govt. becomes less authoritarian and instantaneou feedback mechanism facilitates mutual perception and understanding.
§ Improve horizontal communication between the village communities and vertical communication between the masses and decision-makers.
§ New communication technologies to make it possible to register messages and feedback from all parties in the dialogues, facilitating mutual perception and understanding.
India initiated more than 3 decades ago developmental communication support to its periphery and remote region by using foreign satellite. These initial trials had shown significant increase in awareness about health in participants and on use of new agriculture practices through this media. Subsequently trials through shared transponders triggered demand for such medium for developmental needs. Eventually, dedicated transponders on INSAT satellites for such requirements were identified and new channels called Training and Developmental Communication Channels(TDCC), having satellite based broadcasting and terrestrial interaction to train functionaries, was launched about 12 years back. This channel has trained more than 3 million functionaries so far thus saving tremendously on the national exchequer. The demand is further growing as it has become indispensable media to impart training, in the country. Indian satellites also supported development of predominantly tribal and backward areas though JDCP project which had both the elements of satellite communication; broadcasting and interactive.
Subsequently more supporting elements were added through a program called GRAMSAT which included e-governance also apart from satellite broadcasting and interactivity. These network implemented in some states by ISRO are extensively giving communication support to decision takers in the periphery of the country. The networks are also used regularly to transact fund utilization statements and project progree and implementation status. Other agencies in the country also set up several satellite based network for citizen services. ISRO also setup networks for E-governance to support bundle of integrated rural specific services including support to farmers produce. The successive initiatives of use of space for development by ISRO, has enabled India to have stable and sustainable satellite based developmental networks now tailored to the specific needs of masses which are build over a long field experience in project management. These have also triggered the requirement of such more networks as more and more initiatives by several other and NGO agencies to support livelihood and earning of rural masses and to work as outlet to their produce have been setup. This paper presents such satcom based initiatives which are extensively supporting periphery development of India.
Mostly developing countries are rural centric and as such this model can also be beneficial to them to support periphery development where majority of people live.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-E3.I.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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