ICT and Life Long Learning Pedagogy for Development and Empowerment: An Illustration from Farmers in India

Abstract

The contemporary socioeconomic and political scenario in India hinders the disadvantaged communities from expanding their capabilities. Lack of opportunities deters these communities from having equitable access to the fruits of ongoing development. In India the farming population (70%) in general, and small and marginal farmers (63.0%) in particular, are the worst affected by this asymmetry of opportunities. While India heavily depends on agriculture, the distressed farmers resort to suicide for want of livelihood security. There is an urgent need to build the capacities of farmers to enhance their bargaining power and ensure a minimum standard of living. Life Long Learning (L3) aided by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a unique attempt that facilitates this capacity building process by providing horizontal, vertical and self-directed learning. By enhancing the cognitive social capital of the farmers, Life Long Learning improves their negotiating skills and expands their access to livelihood resources. Since 1998, Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) in partnership with groups of farmers has demonstrated this in rural Tamil Nadu, India. This article describes the process and outcome of this intervention where L3 has become an effective tool. We are deeply indebted to CoL for supporting this initiative.

KEYWORDS:

• development
• ICT enabled learning
• lifelong learning for farmers

Notes

Note: *An Acre constitutes 100 cents and a cent is equivalent to 436 Square Feet.

Note: *Number indicates only those who possess each item and hence the total will not tally.

Reddiyarchatram is the name of a location which comes within the administrative jurisdiction of Dindigul revenue district in the State of Tamil Nadu.

“Panchayat” is the unit of grass-roots-level local self government which covers a population of around 5,000 people. A specific number of such Panchayats jointly forms the middle layer of local self government called Panchayat Union in the State of Tamil Nadu.

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) grammar as proposed by Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) contains bits of information identified as granules and a group of related granules form a chunk and a group of chunks form a unit and a group of units form a block.

The term Vaigai is the name of a river which flows through Madurai District and has historic and cultural importance. Hence, the farmers preferred to name their association after it.