A Letter to ‘The Economist’
Posted : March 18, 2005 at 6:43 pm [IST]
I read the report in ‘The Economist Technology Quarterly’ section of the magazine yesterday and wrote the letter
Dear Editor, Your report “Behind the digital divide” in ‘The Economist‘ March12-18, 2005 issue is in bad taste and falls short of your standard. Perhaps the reporter is biased. He thinks countries like India are destined to live in the dark ages for years to come or perhaps for ever. The reporter has made the story pathetic by bringing in Arumugam and his wife Tillan. Does he assume that Arumugam at around 75 and his wife should remain employed? How is his past profession of drumbeater at funerals is related to the story? Thillan, 50 makes about Rs 30 a day as part-time agriculture labourer. Is it a made up story?
MSSRF is doing a wonderful job in villages, but the reporter is more interested in telling that it is dependent on aid from international donor agencies. Because of similar reports and wrong information that are spread by the western media, India didnt accept any aid from the developed nations during recent Tsunami and handled the crisis independently and internally. Rather India did help other affected countries too. Why didnt the reporter bother to talk to some person in the MSSRF organization or even MS Swaminathan himself to get the right answer about his queries? I am sure he would have agreed for interview.
The reporter mentions of rusting tractors and in the same manner, he foresees a fair number of dusty rooms with old computers piled up in them around the country side. Why the imagination is going that wild? Tractors are extensively in use in India instead of bullocks now? If India would have sold to your way of thinking, it wouldnt have been the situation. Perhaps the reporter is not aware of the success of ITC sponsored e-choupals. Please visit ITC websites and its annual report. After all, ITC is a British company.
Please believe it, the cell-phones are used by many fisher men and some are having even their own computer and internet for their better productivity, safety and trading advantages. A reputed management guru from an American university has observed and already written about it.
India knows it priorities. Unfortunately, it is to spend huge lot on its defense. It cant impose one child policy too even for those who cant take care of them. India cant wait to complete the task of eradication of poverty first and then go for the Information Era with these centers. Many NGOs and non-profit agencies have undertaken the use this means to service the rural development in areas of education, health care. Further it will also help in making many a social programs more transparent, besides providing many other services to the people.
The reporter would have raised all his apprehensions with Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala and got a better insight into the programs for the rural India where 60% of the population are living. Researches at the premier institute such as IITs and IISc are helping it.
But the last part of the story about the bubbling water rising to the surface of the temple well and the temple deity is a horrendous way to depict the average Indian people. It may make a good story, but does more damage by spreading wrong news about the great work rather a revolution going on in rural India to bridge the divide.
- Indra
Category: Rural development |
Leave a Comment