Rural Development and Community Information Centres: An Overview with Special Reference to Karnataka

This paper presents the importance of rural development in the changing context of the society and defines the community information centres (CICs) and their role in disseminating the necessary information to the rural masses. The paper also highlights the important programmes of the Government for upliftment and enhancement of the quality of life in the rural areas of the Karnataka State. It is emphasised that the rural or the gram panchayat libraries must assume a new role of CICs and be instrumental in creating awareness among the rural masses by providing appropriate need-based information for the appropriate utilisation of various schemes and programmes of the government.