Rural communities are being focused more through the Information Communication technologies (ICT) implementations world wide as they can be impacted most effectively, the need being the highest. A fast-approaching threat is that the Information and knowledge divide would increase with the highest speed in the remotest of communities if not timely touched through the powerful tools of ICTs with the right orientation.

Understanding this threat, ICTs efforts are now congregating to cut across the barriers of distance, time and opportunities to enhance the reach of services and information especially to the rural communities. The ICTs are now establishing links in remote and less developed rural areas, thus improving their prospects. The ICT centers also known as Information Centers or Soochnalayas are being set by various agencies and organizations. These Centers are the delivery and linking points offering multi-dimensional benefits to its stakeholders including the rural communities as well.

Drishtee, an India based ICT enterprise has evolved an entrepreneurial network of the ICT Centers or Kiosks that facilitate information and services related to education, health, employment, government services, insurance, e-commerce and many more in the rural areas. The 1020 kiosk network of Drishtee Kiosks connects Panchayats to each other and to the service and information delivery channels developed through Drishtee. With one Kiosk on every five to six villages, Drishtee caters to rural users in more than 50,000 villages across India. It saves a huge opportunity cost and gives a considerable socio-economic edge to the communities being addressed through the ICTs.

The most common Challenge being faced by the ICT networks and the Information Centers today is in reaching out to the communities, i.e. bringing them closer to the ICT centers. Drishtee Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that facilitates a communication link between the ICT and its users for their sustainable development. It has been designed to play a catalytic role in enhancing the reach and results for economic and social benefits through the ICT networks, mainly through Research – to increase the viability component and Promotions – to step up the sustainability factor.