E-Governance in Rural India: Need of Broadband Connectivity Using Wireless Technology

The Information and Communication Technologies play an important role in rural development. The Empowerment of rural communities is crucial for the development of the rural region. Bringing the people in the rural region in the mainstream of the digital technologies to access and adopt modern technologies is a major concern now. Rural Development implies both, the economic development of the people and greater social transformation using electronic governance (e-governance). In order to provide the rural people in Maharashtra with better prospects and opportunities for economic development, agricultural development and management, marketing management, increased participation of rural people in usage and adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is envisaged. This paper aims to explore the nature, role and relevance of the Electronic/Digital Governance using ICTs and wireless technologies for agriculture and rural development in the rural regions. It also aims to study the impact of e-governance on rural development and methods for improving local environmental governance having regard particularly to the range of interests and actors involved in e-governance. The paper examines the current status of electronic governance in Jalgaon district in India. It focuses on development of the model using ICTs/wireless technologies for e-governance of Jalgaon district in Maharashtra state, India.