Smart card and the poor
Sangam Krishi Sangam (SKS) is a micro credit project in one of the poorest parts of India-the drought-prone Medak District. SKS has developed a robust backend management information system through the use of a smart card to record details of savings and loans. The use of a smartcard enables data collected at the field level to flow seamlessly to top management. Staff, many with only 5 to 6 years of schooling, are able to easily record data on the smart card through the use of a handheld computer.
Smart Cards eliminate the need for manual collection sheets and passbooks. This means that SKS staffers can thereby multiply their client load to help the micro finance project achieve financial sustainability more quickly. Additional benefits of the Smart Card include more flexible financial services and stronger financial controls.
For more details, visit http://www.sksindia.com/
Access to real time information
E-choupal is a web portal which allows the farmers in India to check both futures prices around the world and local prices before going to market. Access to the Internet via satellite and solar panels provides information about local weather conditions, soil-testing techniques and other expert knowledge that will increase their productivity.
There are 3,000 internet access points in India, serving 18,000 villages, reaching up to 1.8 million farmers. E-choupals have already reduced ITC’s transaction costs and the quality of the soybeans purchased through the portal buys is better. As e-choupals continue expanding to other crops like wheat, the returns will be greater.
Story from the New York Times, ‘Internet transforms farming in India Rural savvy in a global market’ By Amy Waldman, Friday, January 2, 2004
For more details, visit http://www.digitaldividend.org/case/case_echoupal.htm
Stockholm Challenge Award winner 2006: ICT eChoupal
Source : http://ictfordevelopment.wordpress.com/
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