CONTENTS List of Tables, Figures and Annexures 9 About the Editor/Contributors 13 Preface 19 Section 1 Examples of Good Governance and Information and Communication Technologies with Convergences in Architectures, Models for Large Scale Applications and Content Standardisation 1. Governance of Rural Information and Communication Technology: Opportunities and Challenges HAREKRISHNA MISRA23 2. ICT and e-Governance for Rural Development T.P. RAMA RAO 51 3 e-Governance and Citizens' Charter : An Agenda for an Effective Delivery Mechanism-The Ahmedabad Experience ANITA KARWAL 67 4. e-Governance: Gujarat Initiatives and Experience NlRLESH S. KOTHARI, PRADYUT J. MODI and NEETA SHAH 97 5. Governance and Disaster Management V. THIRUPPUGAZH and SUDHIR KUMAR 115 6. GIS and Governance in Development in India: Trends and Strategy for Implementation PRAMOD K. SINGH 129 7. Basic Services to Rural Community and Role of Standard ICT Infrastructure: Prospective Models for Large-scale Replication and Sustainable Governance School as the 'Pivot' for Rural ICT Services J. SHANKAR159 Section 2 Basic Services through ICT with Business Approach oin Rural Areas: The Indian Context 8. Using ICTs for Reaching the Unreached S. SENTHILKUMARAN 175 9. Rural Business through ICT : Profitability and Role of Governance SATYAN MISHRA and NITIN GACHHAYAT 185 10 ICT for Rural Development: Lessons Learnt from Village Knowledge Centres, Pondicherry V. MADHAVA RAO 203 11. e-Governance at Panchayat Level : Role of Infrastructure in ICT Development V. ANNAMALAI 217 12. Towards an Appropriate Software: Motivations and Case Studies DINESH T.B. and ANAND BALA229 13.ITC e-Choupal: Enmeshing Interests, Enhancing Incomes S. SIVAKUMAR 247 Section 3 ICT Connectivity in Indian Villages and Quality of Service 14.Mobile Phones and Rural Telephony MAHESH UPPAL 253 15. Emerging Technologies for the Last Mile - Connection in the Villages : Preference for Solar Powered Laptop with GPRS based Data/Internet Services RANGANAYAKULU BODAVALA and KAMAL BANDOPADYAYA259 16 ICT Infrastructure for Rural Development: Issues and Priority for Application R.R. HERMON 265 17 Communication Infrastructure Convergence in India : A Case Study on Kheda Telecom District of BSNL S.S. SOLANKI and HAREKRISHNA MISRA273 Index 285