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Bridging the Social and Digital Divides in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala: A Capabilities Approach
Author(s) -
Thomas Jayan Jose,
Parayil Govindan
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
development and change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1467-7660
pISSN - 0012-155X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7660.2008.00486.x
Subject(s) - bridging (networking) , icts , digital divide , psychological intervention , information and communications technology , economic growth , population , scale (ratio) , sample (material) , empirical evidence , socioeconomics , regional science , social science , sociology , geography , political science , computer science , economics , psychology , demography , cartography , computer network , philosophy , chemistry , epistemology , chromatography , psychiatry , law
Combining empirical evidence with Amartya Sen's concept of capabilities, this article argues that the digital divide is not merely a problem of access to ICTs. It is part of a larger developmental problem in which vast sections of the world's population are deprived of the capabilities to use ICTs, acquire information and convert information into useful knowledge. Fieldwork research including sample surveys conducted in rural locations in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh in India shows that these capabilities can only be created through large‐scale complementary interventions in economic and social development.