Kenneth Keniston, IT conference & digital divide

KATHAMNDU, Jan 26 - The ongoing CAN Info Tech 2001 in many respects is far better than the past Info Techs organized by the Computer Association of Nepal (CAN). One of the factors that makes the event different from those held previously is the two-day Information Technology (IT) conference being participated in by 250 plus techno-minds from South Asia and other countries, which is a common platform for discussions and deliberations between IT-savvy scholars, professionals and businessmen.

The conference also offers an opportunity to participants to share their knowledge and experiences and explore new avenues in this fastest growing industry. It will also provide a forum for sharing success stories and using IT for the consolidated development of the nation.

The conference comprises keynotes, intense vertical tracks, in-depth technology, business management and governance-focused sessions and covering issues surrounding information and communications technologies. It will have six-tracks, including IT in developing Countries, IT for Better Quality of Life, Breaking the ICE (Information, Communication and Entertainment) Technology, IT Human Resources, Virtual University, IT-enabled Services and IT Investment Opportunities in Nepal.

Kenneth Keniston, Director of the MIT-India Program and Professor of Human Development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the keynote speaker of the IT conference is presenting a paper on the Digital Divide. Keniston is of the opinion that the ever-widening digital divide is not a problem in itself, rather it is a reflection of the existing problems. Keniston spoke to Ram Sharan Sedhai of The Kathmandu Post. Excerpts:

TKP: How can IT help the underprivileged?

KK: Well, by giving computer training and allowing people to search for information, even the illiterate rural poor will be able to benefit from the technology. Gyandoot, messenger of knowledge, a project in Andhrapradesh, India, has connected around 15 villages with computers with their own web sites, where the literacy rate is 30 per cent. Yet they are using the technology for finding better prices for agricultural produce, searching for government job, asking the local administrator for necessary amenities like a drinking water supply and so on.

This has not only brought change to their lives, but has also empowered women.

TKP: You mean the same can be done in Nepal?

KK: Yes. It is applicable in a Nepali context as well.

TKP: But what about language?

KK: Yes, language could be a problem in the absence of software and the local content is equally essential.

TKP: We need IT, but we also need to fulfill the basic necessities of a larger section of the population with very limited resources. Under such conditions, what do you suggest?

KK: It would be dangerous to put such an emphasis on IT that the basic necessities of the majority people are neglected. I don’t believe IT is the most important thing for Nepal given the present situation.

TKP: Then Nepal has no IT potential?

KK: No. I do not mean that. If you have young, educated people, training opportunities, positive policy and an environment conducive to IT-enabled services, Nepal can benefit from the technology. Countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Israel have been reaping the benefits of the IT. So too can Nepal. But the basic thrust should be on fulfilling the basic necessities of the general public, if not, the digital divide will be a serious problem.

TKP: How do you define the digital divide?

KK: It is the difference between people having access to global information and those having no access to it.

TKP: How many kinds of digital divides are there?

KK: Primarily there are three. One between the rich, who have access to information, and the poor, who have no access to information. The second is the linguistic divide, especially between the English-speaking and the non-English-speaking people. The third is between the rich and the poor countries.

TKP: What do you suggest to minimize the gap?

KK: Okay, the solution to the problem is to make the information accessible to those who have no access now. But for this you need to develop an infrastructure, develop software in your local language and of course, above all increase the literacy rate. Similarly, you also need resources. But the irony is that resources available for one purpose are not available for another.

FNCCI blames dirty politics for poor economy

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BANKE, Jan 26 - Top officials of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) have expressed deep concern over the deteriorating economic condition of the country and blamed it to the unnecessary tussles among the political parties instead of concentrating on solving various economic difficulties being faced by the country.

Speaking at the inauguration function of Mid-Western Industrial Trade Fair, Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, President of FNCCI opined that the ongoing conflicts within the government has greatly hampered the desired pace of the economic development and added " Private sector should come forward to break the present stagnation in development."

He said that due to the persisting narrow thinking, we have, so far failed to achieve healthy development, which is required to put Nepal in rank of developed countries and stressed that private sector needs to play comprehensive role in generating more employment opportunities and alleviating poverty.

Speaking on the occasion, Rabi Bhakta Shrestha, First Vice President of FNCCI said that most of the industries in Nepal are on the verge of collapse. He also informed the gathering that the federation has submitted recommendation to the government to rescue more than 70 per cent small industries, which have been closed.

However, he came down heavily upon the government for not implementing various recommendations presented by the Federation, saying, "The government is not at all serious toward industrial problems".

He said that the Federation has demanded security guarantee from the government after dramatic increase in industries being attacked in recent months. "As per our demand during recent talks with the Prime Minister and Home Minister, a security committee has been formed under the co-ordination of Joint secretary of Home Ministry but it is yet to start functioning," he said.

The ten-day long fair with more than 125 stalls exhibiting locally produced goods includes, among others, handcrafts, industrial goods, herbal products and agricultural productions.

Om Jang Rana, Chairman of District Development Committee also expressed deep concern over continued closure of big industries in the region and underlined the need to protect such industries from collapse.

Shyam Kumar Sharma, Member Secretary of organising committee and Shesh Kanta Sharma, President of Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries also spoke on the occasion.

Round table discussion on IT & e-commerce

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KATHMANDU, Jan 26 – A one-day round table discussion on Information Technology and e-Commerce for Development was organized in Kathmandu by the Centre for Development and Governance today.

In his inaugural address, Hon Minister for Science & Technology, Surendra Prasad Chaudhary stressed the importance of IT. He said "e-Commerce is the rapidly growing economic force in the knowledge society. It is going to transform economic and political world order, ushering in an era of global village.

Chairman of the event Ramesh Anand Vaidya, Member, National Planning Commission observed that Nepal had now to think how IT could be used to conduct business effectively for both private and government sectors.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bishwa Keshar Maskay, Chairman of Center for Development and Governance stressed that Nepal should also be participating in the benefits of e-Commerce. Others speaking during the inauguration session included Binod Bahadur Shrestha, 3rd Vice President, FNCCI, Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Chief Economic Advisor, Nepal Rastra Bank, Lochan Lal Amatya, President, CAN.

The discussion was divided into two sessions. Dr Bernard Andre Ancel Chief of Center ITC, Geneva, presented a paper on Partnership for e-Trade during the first session.

The theme papers presented on the second session were on IT and e-Commerce for SME Development and Software Development and IT enabled Services by Manohar Kumar Bhattarai and Suresh Kumar Regmi respectively. The programme was supported by the Asia Foundation.

VAT office creating awareness

SHIRAHA, Jan 26 (PR) - The VAT district office, Lahan, has started moves to create awareness about VAT administration to the local consumers and taxpayers.

According to the information given by Bim Prasad Adhikari, Chief of the VAT Office, it has set a target of Rs 126.6 million revenue collection, during the current fiscal year. Of the amount, Rs 90 million is to be realised from VAT, while rest Rs 36.6 million from excise duty.

During the first six months of the current year, out of the VAT target of Rs 20.12 million, a sum of Rs 21.5 million has been collected, just 50 percent of targeted amount. The total planned revenue collection was Rs 42.3 million

Similarly, in the excise duty, of the targeted amount of Rs 17.5 million only Rs 12.3 million was collected during the period, equivalent to 72 per cent of the targeted figure.

VAT office at Lahan, during the last fiscal year, collected Rs 75.6 million out of the targeted Rs 108.8 million, which was 69 per cent of the total target figure.

Explaining about the relatively low progress in the total revenue collection, Adhikari said that frequent break down of Udayapur Cement Factory, which alone contributes around 60 percent of the total district revenue, is the chief cause for low collections in recent months.

TCS to initiate software training

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KATHMANDU, Jan 26 – TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) is to provide software training in Nepal through Mazda International Computech (MIC). The information was given at a press conference organized in the capital today. Speaking at the press conference, Amrit Bahadur Thapa of MIC, said that the course offered by TCS is not on specific software but the functioning of computerized accounting for IT awareness using standard technologies.

The objectives of initiating the software training program is to provide quality education at affordable cost, provide recognition to unaffiliated computer institutes and to ensure availability of trained manpower for computerized financial accounting and office computing, it was informed at the conference.

Established in 1968, TCS is one of the largest software companies in Asia and has been providing computers and management consultancy to business, industry and government in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, it was informed. MIC has been associated with TCS since 1992.