D Lakshman, a grama panchayat member from Kattigenahalli in Tumkur, has to travel nine kilometers to Tumkur town to use Internet. And if one is to go by the census figures, then Lakshman’s plight is not an isolated case.
According to the census 2011 report, the Internet penetration in rural Karnataka is hardly 0.7 per cent of the total 79 lakh households. Even though around five per cent of the rural households have computers and laptops, 15 pc of them have Internet connections.
“Education plays an important role in the growth of Interne. There is a need to educate people living in rural areas about Internet. Market will be created only when there is a demand,” said M N Vidya Shankar, former principal secretary of Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology in Karnataka.
The Internet, the most ubiquitous manifestation of the IT revolution, remains off the radar for the majority of people in Karnataka villages.
Internet penetration in India (rural and urban) currently stands at 10 Internet users per 100 people.
According to a new research study by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International, the rural India’s Internet users are growing day by day. In their report titled ‘Internet in Rural India’, they have mentioned that the total number of active Internet users in rural area is projected to double each year.
“We are moving into 4G technology. Mobile phone will provide a road-map to Internet access in rural areas. Internet is, of course, a key driver for the e-commerce industry and the demand will rise,” Dr Subho Ray, president, IAMAI.
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