IMPACT RESEARCH STUDY: OWNERSHIP, USABILITY, ACCESSBILITY & ACCESS TO RIGHTS
USING ICT TOOLS & APPLICATIONS
Report on Survey Research for IMPACT

DEF research team, Rahul Choudhary, Maubani Dutta, and Bijo Abraham, visited Jhansi and Kaushambi in the State of Uttar Pradesh in India to conduct survey research. The team visit the Kaushambi district out of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayat Raj named Kaushambi one of the country’s 250 most backward districts. It consists of major blocks such as Chail, Manjhanpur, Bharwari, Kashiya, Muratganj, Sirathu, Karari and Kara. The researchers visited interior villages of Mooratganj and Manjhanpur where the locals speak the Bhojpuri dialect.

II. Observations

Economics

Only few people owned major part of the agricultural land and large part of the population do not own any agricultural land. Those that own land are usually of higher economic status and have some form of educational attainment and social recognition. For example, they are able to hire labourers for the maintenance and upkeep of their agricultural land. The labourers, however, are generally of lower status in the educational and financial status and therefore do not have the same recognition socially. Therefore, it is safe to assume that there is a high gap between the statuses of people living in the village. While there is a section of rich and educated people, there are also a section of poor and educationally backward people. The educated families have awareness about and are using mobile phones, computers, laptops, and internet. They also have awareness about Indian constitution, RTI act, internet and other rights etc.

Furthermore, these communities are able and have enough knowledge to access and get the benefits of every government scheme even if they are are not entitled for the same.
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