E-Governance potential for rural india

Like all other information communication technology (ICT) fads that the world has witnessed, E-Governance is the latest buzzword. This paper reviews the relevance of E-Governance for the rural masses in developing nations, with specific reference to India. In India at present, ICT and E-Governance are at best adding to the existing vast virtual divide between the rural and the urban citizenry. The article discusses various E-Governance initiatives, such as e-Choupal, e-Seva, and AMCUS launched by a private sector organization, a state government, and a co-operative of farmers respectively. In a nutshell, any E-Governance initiative in a developing country like India runs the risk of a failure if it does not target the benefit of the rural masses. E-Governance should be used to bridge the divide between rural and urban masses, and not to widen it.