Decentralized computing for rural development

Abstract

In meet developing countries, the number of micro-computers in use in the field is still very small. For example, oaly 10-15 micrm are in use in district ItdmJnbttratJOI! in India, whereas each of the 30 departmemts in the 412 districts in India could profitably use one. Since the expenditure on rural developnmt ~ in India is large, pay off from using compaters can be immense. The paper draws upon work due at the Indian lnsff~e of M.anagement, Alumedabad (lIMA) to emphasize the need to provide access to micro-computers at the district level. In addition to large cost savJnp, there would be other benefits, such as improved quafity of datt, capability for spatial and model based analysis, and good moultoring and control.