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Abstract:
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Advancement in the information and communication technology (ICT) has taken
us in to the ‘information age’ and has given rise to ‘digital economy’ and form a
part of the infrastructure sector of the digital economy. The two most important
tools of ICT responsible for these unprecedented changes are ‘computers’ and
‘internet’. We can very well imagine the magnitude of development and success if
these are made available to common people. But making these tools available to
common people is a Herculean task and this has given rise to the issue of ‘digital–
divide’, i.e. “disparities/differences based on economic status, geographic location,
between those who ‘have’ or ‘do not have’ access to information, internet and
other information and communication technological services and those who ‘have’
or ‘do not have’ the skills, knowledge and abilities to use information, internet and
other information and communication technologies”. Hence this study/research is
an another step ahead to find out real nature and the extent of digital divide
existing in India and to suggest ways and means to bridge the gap between those
who ‘have’ and ‘have not’ access to information and communication tools and
services. |