Strom Center Blog

Do mobile really help rural?

Yes, they really help rural people in many aspects. In the recent years India made international headlines , when it was claimed that the country has more people with mobile phones than toilets. There are several slums in India without running water, but where families have four or five phones. Whilst the continued uptake of communications technology in urbanIndiais predictable, how has its ready availability and affordability affected life in villages?

As mobile phone service providers move into rural areas and improve services, the technology has been embraced by the majority of villagers, and some have even struck it rich by leasing their land to mobile phone companies for transmission towers. Mobile phones have been primarily a positive force for communication and village relationships. “When something bad, like a death, used to happen, we would have to find a person from the Dalit ['untouchable'] area, who would go around and tell all the people because Dalits do the distasteful jobs in our village. If I had gone to tell people, they would say ‘it’s bad you are coming’. Now, we can just call people on the mobile and tell them.”

In the distant past, there were only a couple of landlines per village. And many of the villagers have relay on the land-line owner to let them use it. Now, most households have cancelled landlines because mobiles offer greater benefits and better value for money. Even our grand parents had a land-line phone, previously, but this is obsolete now. “For just Rs1500, we bought them a mobile phone with a camera, Bluetooth, memory card and free messaging”. As the competition increases among service providers, we are getting more benefits. 

]]>

Even these have advantages, there are disadvantages too, Such as unwanted calls from promotional companies, calls at inconvenient times, and the fact that ‘terrorist people are using’. Of course, am here pointing only the positive aspects of mobile. In order to intimate any to the people in the cities, villagers have to send through a letter which takes nearly ten to fifteen days. But now a day with the use of mobiles they can intimate within the fraction of seconds. So communication has been developed through mobiles in rural areas.

We can get a lot of information through mobile services. Mobiles are very useful for the women, if I am not wrong. In these days, we can see many crimes on women. Whenever they are in problem they can just simply make a call to the known people or can intimate to parents where they are or can take the help of people if they have mobile phone with them, so that they can reach home safely. With this trust only, villagers come forward to send their children to the colleges which locate in other far towns. Therefore, education rate increases in villages.

Mobile phones are used for a variety of purposes, including keeping in touch with family members, conducting business, and having access to a telephone in the event of an emergency. Some people carry more than one cell phone for different purposes, such as for business and personal use. Multiple SIM cards may also be used to take advantage of the benefits of different calling plans—a particular plan might provide cheaper local calls, long-distance calls, international calls, or roaming. 

Mobile phones help lift poor out of poverty. The United Nations has reported that mobile phones—spreading faster than any other information technology—can improve the livelihood of the poorest people in developing countries. The economic benefits of mobile phones go well beyond access to information where a land-line or Internet is not yet available in rural areas, mostly in Least Developed Countries. Mobile phones have spawned a wealth of micro-enterprises, offering work to people with little education and few resources, such as selling airtime on the streets and repairing or refurbishing handsets.

Apart from these, we can get information related to live shows, astrology, numerology, beauty tips, health care, job alerts, entertainment, shares, etc. therefore, mobile services had brought up much improvement in villages. Mostly this improvement has been taken place in only communication sector. But it is unable to probe the leaders to develop the rural areas.

Source: ArticlesBase.com

Village Tourism in India – Must Visit Rural Spots

Rural tourism in India can provide the perfect window during which you can imbibe the culture of the land and experience the magic of community life. November to Mid-February is the most suitable time to plan your visit to these magical destinations, due to the pleasant climate.

There are a number of circuits which fall under . If you are looking to embark on a journey through the road less travelled, some of the major rural circuits have been given below.

Rajasthan is a prominent centre for village tourism. Some of the must visit villages in this area include Samode, Barmer, Nathdawara and Bundi. Each village has its unique traditions, habits, rituals, arts and crafts. The rural people are extremely friendly and they’ll welcome you with a heartwarming smile.

The villages in this region are known for their architectural value. There are a number of activities which are organized here such as visits to the farm where you can learn about modern farming techniques and visits to the ‘Vaidhya’ who is the local doctor trained in the science of Ayurveda.

]]>

In the night time, local tribes dance with great enthusiasm to the tunes of Kavelias and Mirasis and onlookers are welcome to join in. The camel rides across the Thar and through the alleys of Samode can be timeless experiences.

Hodka in Gujarat is famous for its overnight camel safari, leather products and mud crafts. You can try making these handicrafts with the help of the rural folk.

In Himachal Pradesh, especially villages like Naggar and Raisaon, you can enjoy the mountain scenery and the participate in the merriment of the fairs such as the Shoolini Mela, Shivratri Trade Fair and Minjar Fair which are held here.

In south India, Banavasi, Anegundi in Karnataka, Kumbalanghi, Annakara, Aranmula in Kerala, Pochampally in Andhra Pradesh and Thadiyankudissai, Karaikudi, Kazhugumalai and Kurangini in Tamil Nadu are some of the prominent centers for

Most villages in this region lie along the coast and depend upon fishing, rather than farming, as a source of income. Various fishing expeditions are arranged for enthusiasts and you can learn about various techniques which are practiced in the region.

 In Kerala, an overnight stay on a houseboat can be an unforgettable experience, where you can drift along the still backwaters and enjoy the silence of your surroundings and the scenic beauty of the land. The villagers celebrate festivals such as Pongal, Onam and various boat races which you can take part in.

In order to unleash your adventurous side, embark on a tour across India’s magical villages where you will be able to unwind and relax, while imbibing the cultural heritage of the land.

Source: ArticlesBase.com