Comment by Shipra Sharma on January 6, 2009 at 4:44pm

ICT4D is the current paradigm encompassing all initiatives that in one way or the other use technologies for achieving development. A number of traditional and academic development practioners are still sceptical about its potential. I think the stories shared on this group should try to prove its potential.

Comment by Sameera Wijerathna on January 6, 2009 at 5:36pm

I agree with you Shipra, yes they are skeptical about potential of ICT4D. I see two main reasons for that;

1. The saying “Can poor eat computers?”. They believe that we have to first think of feeding the poor, building basic infrastructure such as bridges, hospitals before we think of ICT.

2. The concept of ICT4D is in child state in most of the developing countries and yet to prove the relevance of ICT as a catalyst in the development process.

What do you think?

Sameera.
http://ict4d-in-srilanka.blogspot.com/

Comment by Sameera Wijerathna on January 7, 2009 at 11:03am

Welcome new members;

Dr. Syed
Jan
Anahi

This group is for "Telecentres and Beyond" - ICT4D

Sameera.

Comment by A.K.M Ganiul Zadid (জাদীদ) on January 7, 2009 at 1:24pm

good effective initiatives for knowledge share..

Comment by Sameera Wijerathna on January 7, 2009 at 1:36pm

Hi Ganiul

Yes, planning to share knowledge related to ICT4D, but in light of Telecentres.

Comment by Shipra Sharma on January 7, 2009 at 4:44pm

Absolutely Sameera; whenever I have a discussion with people not acquainted with the ICT4D field, they ask the same questions. My only response to them is- How can you think that the poor have only one concern, i. e., hunger? Have the "food for work" programmes eradicated hunger from the world map? How can we think that "I" need computers to connect with the world, expand my knowledge, raise my concerns, enhance my livelihood opportunities and not the poor? How long do we have to believe that the reach of technology will follow the same old "evolutionary" path and the technologies redundant to us can be useful for the poor?
We have to come out of these misconceptions. Technology should not be dominated by the class structure. Once upon a time access to and control over the means of production determined the class structure. In my opinion, at present, this has been replaced by access to and control over the technologies! This is why we talk about the digital divide.
Therefore, we should consider technologies as adding to and contributing to development. There are so many small but relevant stories all over the world. Yes, it will take time, but it has the power to bring about sustainable development in the world.
So, we should not think differently for the poor and marginalised. If technologies have helped us, they will be certainly more helpful for those residing in the villages and remote areas.

Comment by A.K.M Ganiul Zadid (জাদীদ) on January 7, 2009 at 6:19pm

yap. I also mean the ICT4D related experience and knowledge. Thanks! Now I am planing to develop District Resource centre for support the telecentres of Bangladesh. Any information regarding this matters will appreciate...

Comment by Sameera Wijerathna on January 8, 2009 at 12:16pm

Welcome Wael

Ganiul – yes, let’s pool our experience and knowledge for mutual benefit.



“How can you think that the poor have only one concern, i. e., hunger? Have the "food for work" programmes eradicated hunger from the world map?” – Shipra

Hunger, poverty – can technology bring solutions?

This is the reason me to use the current “Deprivation Trap” as the group image. One approach would be to attack the “Isolation” to eradicate the poverty using ICT4D.

Sameera.

Comment by Sameera Wijerathna on January 8, 2009 at 7:41pm

Hi Francis

Comment by Sameera Wijerathna on January 9, 2009 at 10:14pm

http://www.telecentre.org/forum/topics/sustainability-of-telecentres

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