Women empowerment: Information technology as a critical input
- 2014
- p.515-526.
- Jul-Sep
It is a well established fact that Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) offer immense scope for sustainable economic development of people the world over. Without the adoption of these technologies in a competitive economic world, countries can lag behind immensely frittering away the chance of rapid development of their citizens, particularly women. The potential of ICT as a technology for promoting micro-enterprises by poor and rural women is yet to be tapped fully by developing countries like India. This article presents some case studies where technology has been leveraged successfully ushering in a new dawn for women. Deploying ICTs for all round development of women through self-help groups for marketing, land development and economic selfreliance is best illustrated through Kudumbashree project in Kerala, Indira Kranthi Patham in Andhra Pradesh and Nabanna network in West Bengal. The article also presents a basic appraisal on women empowerment in the context of adoption of new technologies with emphasis on the enabling environment and dedication of the poor women involved in the projects mentioned above for achieving sustainable economic development. - Reproduced.