Revista Latinoamericana de la Papa

Tag: Digital Divide

  • INVESTIGATION OF FARMER LIVELIHOODS AND THE ROLE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES IN BHAGALPUR, BIHAR, INDIA

    Full Length Research Article (Monograph)

    Authors: 

    1. Rishabh Aryan, M.Des (UX), School of Design, DIT University, Dehradun (Uttarakhand, India).
    2. Abdul Kalam, Assistant Professor, School of Design, DIT University, Dehradun (Uttarakhand, India).

    Corresponding Author: Abdul Kalam, Assistant Professor, School of Design, DIT University, Dehradun (Uttarakhand, India).

    Email ID: abdul.kalam@dituniversity.edu.in  

    Abstract

    In the rural, agrarian landscapes of Bhagalpur, Bihar, India, the dynamics of local livelihoods are deeply intertwined with the evolving influence of digital technologies. This study investigates the current status of farmer livelihoods, exploring how digital tools empower rural communities while identifying the multi-dimensional barriers that hinder widespread adoption. Historically constrained by small and fragmented landholdings, unpredictable weather, exploitative middlemen, and infrastructure deficits, local farming households face ongoing threats to their economic security. 

    The introduction of mobile connectivity and digital tools has initiated a transformative shift, bridging information gaps by offering real-time weather forecasts, market pricing transparency, and personalized agronomic advisories. Furthermore, the study evaluates the level of awareness across four digitized information sources, finding robust recognition for m-Agriculture (mean awareness score of 3.68), moderate awareness for web portals and hybrid ICT projects, and notably lower familiarity with physical knowledge centers. Beyond direct productivity and economic yields, digital platforms promote socioeconomic resilience, enhance financial inclusion via mobile banking, and open up specialized pathways for marginalized groups like women and rural youth. However, a persistent digital divide along socioeconomic, gender, and age lines, combined with erratic electricity and limited broadband in remote areas, threatens equitable digital inclusion. The study concludes that overcoming these systemic limitations requires multi-stakeholder collaboration, continuous policy support, targeted infrastructure investment, and advanced digital literacy programs to cultivate a sustainable, digitally empowered rural economy. 

    Keywords: Digital Technology Adoption , Farmer Livelihoods , Rural Empowerment, m-Agriculture, Agricultural Productivity, Digital Divide, Bhagalpur, Bihar, Socioeconomic Resilience.

    Accepted: 06/02/2025

    Published: 23/03/2025

    Author(s) Retains the Copyrights of This Article








    INVESTIGATION OF FARMER LIVELIHOODS AND THE ROLE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES IN BHAGALPUR, BIHAR, INDIA






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  • Enhancing Government-Citizen Interaction: Bridging Service Gaps through Digital Design Solutions in Bihar, India

    Case Study

    Authors:

    1. Rishabh Aryan, M.Des (UX), School of Design, DIT University, Dehradun (Uttarakhand, India).
    2. Abdul Kalam, Assistant Professor, School of Design, DIT University, Dehradun (Uttarakhand, India).

    Corresponding Author: Abdul Kalam, Assistant Professor, School of Design, DIT University, Dehradun (Uttarakhand, India)

    Email ID: abdul.kalam@dituniversity.edu.in

    Abstract:

    In the rapidly evolving landscape of public administration, leveraging digital design solutions is imperative to foster transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance. This study, titled “Enhancing Government-Citizen Interaction: Bridging Service Gaps through Digital Design Solutions in Bihar, India,” investigates the potential of utilising digital tools and user-centered design principles to mitigate deep-seated public service delivery constraints. Bihar faces significant administrative hurdles, characterised by inadequate infrastructure, low digital literacy, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and a pronounced rural-urban digital divide that often excludes marginalised communities. 

    Adopting a descriptive and exploratory mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies—including structured surveys, stakeholder interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. To illustrate the practical flow of public service networks on the ground, the study utilizes Social Network Analysis (SNA) within a case study focused on the state’s agricultural sector. By interviewing 111 key informants across six districts, the network mapping evaluates how administrative figures—such as District Agricultural Officers, Block Agricultural Officers, and village-level advisors (Krishi Salahakars)—control, transmit, and utilize critical information. 

    The findings reveal that while bureaucratic hierarchies can be time-consuming and prone to information lag, the penetration of mobile communication technologies successfully expedites service responsiveness by bypassing unnecessary administrative layers. Furthermore, network dynamics vary heavily by district, indicating that a one-size-fits-all digital strategy is ineffective. Based on these insights, the study proposes actionable policy frameworks rooted in Human-Centered Design (HCD). It recommends formalizing grassroots workers as central information nodes, modernizing dissemination channels using mobile and video tools, upgrading personnel skills, and creating localized digital repositories in vernacular languages. Ultimately, this research provides a strategic blueprint for policymakers to minimize service delivery gaps, optimize digital interaction, and enhance overall public trust in governance. 

    Keywords: Digital Governance / E-Governance, Public Service Delivery, Human-Centered Design (HCD), User-Centered Design, Social Network Analysis (SNA), Government-Citizen Interaction, Digital Divide, Bihar Public Administration, Social Knowledge Networks (SKNs), Information Dissemination.

    Accepted: 26/06/2024

    Published: 18/07/2024

    Author(s) Retains the Copyrights of This Article








    Enhancing Government-Citizen Interaction: Bridging Service Gaps through Digital Design Solutions in Bihar, India






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