Gender and Information & Communication Technology: An Experience of Sahapur Gram Panchayat in Malda District

The concept of Gender has been considered as socio-cultural determinants. It demands the rights of equality, equal opportunities, and responsibilities between men and women in society. It is also referred to the participation of all in the decision making process in all sectors of the civil society equally which is not affected by the gender discrimination. Women are representing almost half of the global population. So empowering women is very necessary for the nation’s sustainable development. In 1992, the 73rd amendment act facilitated women to participate in the decision-making process in the rural local self-governance in India. It has been cultivated the women for their social, political and economic development. In this context, ICT has been playing a major role to promote gender equality by empowering women. Through the ICT women have been increased their self-confidence and self-independence. ICT also enable them to participate in the decision making process in their household as well as the process of governance. In this paper it is found the realities of the role of ICT for women empowerment in rural areas. The objective of this paper is to analyze the theoretical concept of gender equality as well as women empowerment. In this paper, It is explored the role of ICT to promote the gender equality in the rural governance with a case study. The field study has been conducted in Sahapur Gram Panchayat of Old Malda Block in Malda district, West Bengal.