Due to the geographical and topographical variation in Nepal, the remote areas have not been fully integrated into the reach of modern day technology for the rapid socio economic development and bringing it into the national mainstream. A vital need has been felt to adopt the modern Information and Communication Technology in the global context of Nepal.

 Nepal Rural Information Technology Development Society (NRIDS) was established in 2004 with the objective of bringing Information and Communication Technology awareness and services to people living in rural areas throughout Nepal. The fact that Nepal has failed to embrace the information revolution over the last ten years means that as a country we have fallen further behind the developed world, rather than gaining ground. Everyone would agree that Nepalese people who are involved in agriculture, education, construction, and tourism can benefit greatly from access to the Internet and e-commerce, just as residents of other countries have.

 If only these people could have their eyes opened to how business and education is carried out in the developed world, business would prosper, and students would flourish. The problem is that much hard work is needed to provide computer access and training to rural areas in Nepal, and, as it stands, very little is being done to rectify the information shortage.  This work began with the endorsement of the Syangja District Development Committee; the members of NRIDS have been formulating a blueprint to convert Syangja into the model district for an information revolution in Nepal. With the go of time this movement has been extended in Kaski and Dang District.

This blueprint is based around the establishment of Community Information Centers in villages where there is currently an extreme shortage of information. A Community Information Center with the involvement and support of local business people, teachers, serviceman, and young people, have been established in different villages; Mayatari, Karendada, Bagalthok, Lampata, Bayatari, and Helu in Syangja; Kaskikot, Astam in Kaski and Rampur , Laxmipur of Dang district. 

Community Information Cente(CIC) is designed not for the big talks of Information and Communication Technology but to make the local people aware what Information and Communication Technology can offer to make their life better. It is concerned with how the local people can get benefited from the Information and Communication Technology such as how can even a farmer get benefits from it. The one and only alternative that Nepal can compete in the today’s world is the Information and Communication Technology.

Sudip Aryal

President

NRIDS

Email:sudiparyal@gmail.com