ICT AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN: CASE OF MOBILE PHONE IN INDIA.

The concept of gender empowerment is a common concern all over the World. This issue has now acquired new dimensions with the advent of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in development countries like India. It has potential to empower women through by overcoming their physical boundaries and access to better economic & business opportunities and education & health services. This paper aims to study the impact of mobile phone access and usage by women from rural areas who are hitherto deprived and isolated due to various social and economic reasons. In total, 200 women (100 users and 100 non-users) were interviewed in two villages in backward or poor districts of Uttar Pradesh. The women interviewees described their experiences, their access & uses of mobile phone and its impact on their lives and barriers or obstacles of accessing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]