Pranabesh Barman and Biraj Kr. Neog

Abstract

Rural Assam is undergoing a quiet but steady digital shift, driven by expanding mobile connectivity, government digital‐service reforms and increasing awareness among villagers about the value of online services. In this context the idea of building an ICT Village a digitally enabled village where technology supports governance, agriculture, education, health and livelihoods offers a practical path toward inclusive development. What such a model could mean for Assam is explored by outlining the opportunities and prospects it can unlock, discussing the real challenges on the ground and presenting a short, data-backed example from the state’s early digital village initiatives. When implemented with strong community ownership, language-appropriate content and sustainable infrastructure, ICT villages have the potential to bridge long-standing development gaps in Assam.