Building a Networked Society: Challenges and Opportunities for

Developing Nations

Subhash Bhatnagarsbhatnagar@worldbank.org

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Presentation Structure❧ Building a Networked Society:

Opportunities❧ Experience of Tele Center Projects in

India❧ Key Elements of Successful Projects❧ Bhoomi (On-line Delivery of Land Titles):

An example of a successful attempt❧ Challenges

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Building a Networked Society❧ Education: World Links, Akshaya (Kerala)❧ Health: Webhealthcenter.com,Virtual Delivery Room, Association

of Uganda Women Medical Doctors❧ Economic Opportunities: SKS-smart card, Kyrgyz Style crafts

(www.kyrgizstyle.kg), Tortas Peru( www.tortasperu.com.pe), Tara Haat (www.tarahaat.com)

❧ E-Government: Bhoomi, Gyandoot❧ Participation:Women Information and Communication

Technology (WICT) in Kenya, Women’sNet (womensnet.org.za) in South Africa

❧ Advocacy and Empowerment:Modemmujer, women activists’ e-mail network in Mexico, Santa Rosa Association of Female Mussel Pickers (Esmeraldas), Urban Ecuador

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Telecenters Projects in IndiaName #Kiosks Agency Years Activity Gyandoot 39 District

n-Logue 2-3 Complaints,

prices, land title MahitiShakti 80 District 1 Govt. Forms Warna 72 NIC 3 Cane crushing

schedule LokMitra 25 Haryana 1 Govt. Forms Melur,Nellikuppam,Baramati

200 n-Logue 1 Internet kiosks

TaraHaat 18 Dev. Alt. 1 e-training market info

Drishtee 90 5 states

Digital Partners

1 Mandi prices Land titles

CIC (NE) 30 NIC,MIT 1-2 Internet access

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Learning from Projects❧ A large number of pilot projects-all partially

successful❧ Most are economically unviable.Some have not been

able to sustain after initial success❧ A few have served narrow objectives❧ Most have provided limited value and therefore a

small clientele❧ Rural population willing to pay for true value

addition❧ In each project some of the essential components

have been missing

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Bridging the Digital Divide

NGOs and grass root organizations that catalyze and mange the community building process

Applications that draw a large cliental that pays for the service, ensuring economic viability of the kiosk

Content that empowers rural citizens and enables formation of communities

Technology that makes rural access inexpensive and robust

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Land Record Computerization Bhoomi, Karnataka, India

❧ 20 million records, 6.7 mln farmers, 9000 villages. VAsissued RTCs and processed mutation in earlier system

❧ RTC issue took 3-30 days and a bribe of Rs 100-2000. Mutation can take up to 2 years (30 days)Encroachment of public land

❧ 180 centers operational for one year where RTCs are issued on-line for a fee of Rs 15. Mutation request filed on line

❧ 5.2 million users, Rs. 80 mln collection goes to dept.❧ Investment of Rs 180 million. Operational expenses: Rs

40 million at 5 million users

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Report Card on Bhoomi is GOOD❧ Survey: 180 users from 12 kiosks and 60 non users 4 taluks❧ Ease of Use: 78% of users who had used both systems found

Bhoomi simpler; 66% used Bhoomi without help vs. 28% in manual

❧ Complexity of Procedures: 80% did not have to meet any one other than at kiosk: In manual 19% met one officer and 61% met 2-4 officials

❧ Errors in documents: Bhoomi 8% vs manual 64%

❧ Rectification of errors: sought correction 93 % vs 49%, timely response 50% vs 4%

❧ Cost of service: 84% one visit to Bhoomi center at Taluk HQ❧ Corruption: 66% paid bribes very often vs 3% in Bhoomi❧ Staff behavior: Bhoomi Good (84%) vs manual Average (63%)

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Rural Telecenters in Mandya❧ 30 telecenters set up by nLogue (private company)❧ Use a wireless in local loop technology-CorDECT

developed by IIT, Chennai❧ Bhoomi permits dial up access to its data base (now local,

later central) at a fee of Rs 15. Kiosks can charge an additional fee of Rs. 10.

❧ Bhoomi updates central data base through a VSAT network of another application

❧ Innovative solutions for providing a signed copy❧ Connected to District Administration for services❧ Need NGO participation to truly involve communities

Keynote Presentation at WITFOR 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania, August 26-28, 2003.

Lessons: Ingredients of Success❧ Presence of all four elements: Access,

Content, Intermediaries, Killer Application❧ Developing synergies and partnerships❧ Enabling Telecom policies and power❧ Need for continuous independent assessment❧ Clear benefits and wider context of reform❧ Creating awareness and Capacity building ❧ Political will and strong project management❧ Support Organization and Funding

Enablers of Networked Societies

❧ 20 % Technology

❧ 35 % Business Process Reengineering

❧ 40 % Change Management

❧ 5% Luck !

Technology

ProcessPeople