Theory and practice of e-governance in India: a gender perspective

In India women's ability to participate in the country's rapid progress towards e-governance is impeded by the low status ascribed to women and girls in Indian society. This is reflected in the gender disparity in many sectors with women in a disadvantaged position in India. Extreme poverty and poor IT infrastructure in rural areas, where the majority of Indian women reside, further restrict women's access to education and information technology. Such an iniquitous position of women has contributed enormously to the slow pace of development in India. The issue of gender equity is not a supplement to development and e-governance but central to both. While the e-governance initiatives are theoretically comprehensive and aimed at inclusion of every citizen, the last digital node, unless the gender perspective is taken into account, a huge gap is bound to remain between the theory and practice of e-governance in India with attendant effects on development. Despite the many e-governance initiatives and massive investments in information communication technologies (ICTs) in India, a gender gap might exclude or restrict women to be equal partners and beneficiaries of the e- governance initiatives.