European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences 2013; www.european-science.com vol.2, No.3 (s), pp. 1898-1902 ISSN 1805-3602 Information and Communications Technology Offices: A Solution for Economic and Social Development of Villages (A Case Study on Rural District of Khosrow Shirin, Abadeh, )

Shiva Mosaheb1, Dariush Khaksra2 and Mehdi Rahnama3 1 Payam-e-Noor University, Abadeh, Iran; 2 University of Applied Science and Technology, Abadeh, Iran; 3 Mayor of Abadeh, Iran

Abstract increasing productivity on the basis of growth and development to transform social and economic Information technology is considered as one of structures in villages. the major criteria for economic and industrial de- Rural development is referred to as a vital el- velopment and progress, and it is one of the most ement for national development and the final so- important bases for rural development. Informa- lution for unemployment and over-population that tion technology is setting the stage for social and practically results in the improvement of villagers’ economic development by appropriate decision- lives in various aspects such as income, employ- making to achieve national objectives and to meet ment, education, health, food, and housing, as well needs of rural communities. In the present study, as development of rural division capacities and ac- through a rural development approach, an attempt celeration of growth over time (Alexandru, 2006). was made to get a general conclusion about the roles Emergence of electronic world and develop- of technology and information in economic growth ment of information technology have been effective and development of villages and effects of Informa- on communities’ development in different aspects, tion and Communications Technology (ICT) offic- playing a critical role in development. The actions es on rural development and its problems in village governments have taken for the reconstruction and Khosrow Shirin were addressed in various aspects. comprehensive development of villages at national levels include developing and expanding informa- Keywords: economic-social development, ICT tion and communications technology (ICT) to en- offices, information technology, Khosrow Shrin hance social, economic and cultural justice in vil- village lages and to take optimal measures in this area.

Introduction A sociological approach

Development is a complex and broad concept Madian Levy is a researcher following a soci- that includes various aspects. Complexity of the de- ological approach to development. Levy consid- velopment concept has different reasons, the most ers relations between relatively modern communi- important of which are generality and universality ties and non-modern communities, accounting for of the concept. In fact, development should evolve the main reason behind realizing modernization. in all structural and institutional areas of a com- The specifications of non-modern communities munity, and different unbalanced situations should include: low specialty, high sufficiency, presence of be prevented. Rural development is one of develop- tradition-based cultural norms, cultural homoge- mental plans for any country to improve of life con- neity, relatively low emphasis on money and mar- ditions for villagers and create economic, social and ket flows, family-governed norms such as adher- cultural balance between cities and villages, while ence to informal relations within formal structures,

Corresponding author: Shiva Mosaheb, Payam-e-Noor University, Abadeh, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]

Copyright © Shiva Mosaheb et al., 2013 European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences; vol.2, No. 3 (s), pp. 1898-1902

1898 Social science section and one-sided flow of goods and services from ru- macro-development of the country. In sum, rural ral areas to urban areas. On the contrary, specifi- development is considered a set of technical, eco- cations for relatively modern communities include: nomic, and social strategies in order to make the high specialty, inter-dependence of organizations, best use of available resources and facilities in vil- logic-oriented cultural norms, rationality, public- lages. orientation, functional orientation, high central- ization, relatively higher emphasis on money and Significance of rural development market flows, need for separating bureaucracy from other social entities, and two-sided flows of goods The roles and positions of villages in the process and services (Azkiya, 2004) . of economic, social and political development in local, regional, at international scales and the con- Mass media theory sequences of underdevelopment of rural areas such as widespread poverty, increasing injustice, fast Communication, the transfer of information growth of population, unemployment, immigra- from a person or a group to another person or group, tion, suburban, etc. have drawn the attention to ru- either verbally or by mass media in the modern age, ral development and even its priority over urban de- is a vital element in any society. According to Innis, velopment. According to Michael Todaro, the final that is why features and nature of media in a society solution for urban unemployment and population affects the organization of the society in question. density is to improve rural environments by estab- According to McLuhan, the media is the same as lishing an appropriate balance between economic the message. That is, the nature of media available facilities in cities and villages, as well as providing in a society influences the society’s structure much convenient conditions for people’s expansive par- more than the content or messages of the media, in- ticipation in national development (Cigdem, 2008). cluding electronic media creating the global village The concept of information technology (Castells, 2001). One of the most fundamental media is the un- derlying structure through which information is Rural development exchanged. Technological developments over the twentieth century have transformed information Diasen believes that rural development is a exchange completely by electronic media. Innova- strategy that intends to improve economic and so- tive communication technologies are foundations cial life of a specific group of people. This process for profound changes in the global monetary sys- includes expanding development benefits among tem and stock exchanges (Castells, 2001). the poorest people who are making a living in ru- There is a wide dependence on the application ral areas (Cigdem, 2008). Rural development is the of information to produce a variety of goods and modernization of the rural communities and will services in a society. One of the dynamic chan- transform them from a traditional isolation into a nels of a society is formed by information highways society that merges national economy (ibid). such as the Internet that constitute a new space in According to definitions, programs for rural economic, social and cultural terms for human be- development are part of development programs for ings. According to William Martin, informational any country, and are used for transforming social- community is a community in which quality of life, economic structure of rural communities. Such parallel to perspectives of social transformation and programs that are implemented by governments or economic development, is increasingly dependent their representatives in rural areas are also called on information and its application. In such a soci- social transformation based on a design and plan. ety, life standards, work and leisure patterns, edu- That is the case in third world countries in which cational system, and market are affected by devel- governments have a critical role in restructuring opments in information and science. The evidence society to fulfill specific political and economic for the claim is the widespread information prod- objectives. On the other hand, rural development ucts and services transferred by a wide range of me- could be considered a factor in improving life con- dia which are mostly electronic. ditions of low-income families living in villages, Informational societies have some substruc- and making them self-sufficient in the process of tures that could be classified into three categories:

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1. Substructures for telecommunication also affected villages. ICT is a combination of tools, 2. Substructures associated with sciences machines, technical knowledge, methods and ex- concerned with organizing and processing infor- pertise to use them to produce, transact, process, mation, making the access, application and inter- transfer, and consume information which include pretation of the information possible. the simplest forms of information to the most com- 3. Technical substructures for information plex ones, and the most rudimentary to the most connection: this substructure is indicative of an en- advanced stages of information (Taleb, 2008). vironment in which various interactions are made. In the present political economy, capital and However, a large volume of information is a technology have mobility, and internationalization key factor in development of informational societ- has led to a network of complex and deep relations ies, and this technology is divided into two differ- between large companies and countries all over the ent categories: computer power and transferability world and cultures. Politics has also been transmit- (Ghavam, 1973). ted to everywhere worldwide by rapid exchange of Information technology involves an approach information, thoughts and knowledge. to production and collection of information, its ap- Clearly, development is not possible without plication, and availability of an intellectual and cul- technology, and technology as a phenomenon has tural system that includes all cultural expressions. provoked its development and diversity, while both Today, it is the information process that introduces phenomena influence each other. ICT is a new mil- a new procedure for development and its main fea- lennium technology that has brought about re- ture is the emergence of information process as a duction in process time of calculations, accuracy fundamental activity that determines the effective- to data processing, easy exchange of information, ness and productivity of all processes such as infor- and reduction of transaction costs. Achievements of mation processing, distribution and management. ICT have the most influence on human life when Information flow emerges as a key feature for in- it could penetrate all fields across all social classes formational communities, and this dependence on (Cigdem, 2008). computerized network is reducing spatial limita- tions for contemporary activities (Giddens, 1974). What is the village?

The effect of information technology on A village is a dwelling and the smallest politi- rural development cal unit in country divisions, and it is the living or community place for a group of rural families and ICT is the technology of new millenni- includes some units for farming and/or some busi- um that has brought about reduction in process ness places (Vehovar et al. 2006). time of calculations, accuracy of data process- A village consists of a range of geographical lo- ing, easy exchange of information, and reduction cation, in which a small social units including a of transaction costs. The concept of information- number of families with some feelings of attach- al community indicates unlimited temporal and ment, common emotions, and interests gather and spatial access to information, and it contains an- most of the activities they do to meet their life needs other concept within itself called information gap are performed by using and employing land within (Khosravi, 1979). Generally, information gap refers their dwelling environment. This social unit, most to social and economic differences in applying ICT people of which engage in agricultural activities, is (Mohseni, 2001). ICT has been resulted from the called village. interaction of three distinct sections, computer, in- In country subdivisions, the village Khosrow formation, and telecommunications (Nouri, 2003), Shirin is one of suburbs of Abadeh , Fars, seeks to provide services of central government and Iran, that is located 82 km of the county center. Its non-government agencies for residents of rural ar- population is 3785 including 1898 males and 1887 eas (Rama, 2004). Today, ICT is one of the major females, in 743 households. The occupations for criteria for economic and industrial development most of villagers are traditional agriculture and an- and progress. ICT has so influenced various as- imal husbandry. The village faces some problems pects of individual and community life such as po- such as low literacy, unemployment, and low pur- litical, social, cultural and economic, that it could chase power, unfavorable dwellings, immigration, not be simply overlooked. Development of ICT has and poverty, and low productivity, lack of money

Openly accessible at http://www.european-science.com 1900 Social science section flow, low capital and successive draughts. However, - Paying facilities that have set the stage for high a significant change has been made in economic, investment and productivity social and cultural development since the establish- - Providing internet services such as fuel card ment of the ICT office. registration, university enrollment, course selection, receiving scientific, investigative, religious, and cul- Services of ICT office tural articles - Online purchase of books ICT development in villages was initiated by - Providing insurance services such as issuance of Fourth Development Plan of Iran, and appropri- insurance booklets ate planning has been made in this field so that pro- - Providing mailing services found digital gap between cities and villages, on the - Landline phone registration one hand, and between villages and the information world, on the other hand, could be decreased within The effects of ICT offi ce in the village Khsrow Shirin a certain period of time. Drastic development of rural - Providing (banking, mail, the Internet, and ICT has set the stage for solving most of the problems telecommunication) services for villagers in the least in Khosrow Shirin, such as unemployment, job cre- possible time ation, low capital, immigration, etc. ICT office was - Reducing current expenditures and saving time primarily established in Khosrow Shirin village by a - Reducing unnecessary travels to cities common title of Post, Telegraph, & Post-Bank on - Preventing immigration to cities Feb 2007, and it has been operating by new name of - Encouraging villagers’ active participation by Rural ICT since Feb 2008. ICT has significantly in- investing in ICT office for civil and comprehensive fluenced Khosrow Shirin, and some of the influenc- development, and increasing opportunities for job es are discussed here. Technological and informa- creation tion development in villages is one of the objectives - Enhancing the scientific level of students by in- of principles and practice programs of information- formation exchange via the Internet al community, and Twenty-Year Outlook. Appropri- - Enhancing cultural, social, and economic level ate scientific and executive activities have been per- of villagers and expanding social and economic jus- formed to develop rural ICT in Khosrow Shirin, and, tice by enjoying capitals, facilities, and various ser- from the perspective of development, the village has vices reached good achievements towards improving rural - Receiving bills of water and power consump- life. Considering the matter of importance, required tion, landline phone and mobile phone that triggers conditions and practices for organizing and using increasing receivables of the associated departments global experiences have been met by private and pub- and providing services from relevant entities more lic sectors. desirably ICT office Khosrow Shrin provides various ser- vices towards development in educational, social, Problems of ICT offi ces economic, cultural, and information exchange some Because of the distance from the observing of which are as follows: branch, money exchange is not implemented in - Absorption of low capital of villagers for invest- time, and liquidity discourages customers. ment and monetary flow in the field of rural devel- - For offices with low sources, payments do not opment meet the office’s expenditures - Providing banking services to village head as- - Contractors do not have social insurance, and sistant office do not have the ability to insure themselves. - Providing all banking services for villagers such - Insurance sums for offices are low. as opening current, loan, and deposit accounts - The offices’ properties are not insured. - Receiving bills for water and power consump- - Because of rural distribution, supports for hard- tion, landline phone, and mobile phone which has ware and software systems are not provided in time. led to lowering transportation costs, and accelerat- ing payments Conclusions - Paying pensioners of Imam Khomeini Relief Committee Information and communication technology - Paying equity dividend has created new opportunities for different com-

Openly accessible at http://www.european-science.com 1901 Social science section munities. The communities identifying the oppor- - The offices contractors should be insured. tunities more quickly may compensate retardations - Allocating inter-bank cheques to offices to through rapid structural development. In Abadeh solve liquidity problems. County, Fars, Iran, rural ICT has been established with a significant effect. By introducing informa- References tion technology to villages of Abadeh County, tra- ditional and ineffective procedures for agriculture Alexandru, A. (2006). ICT and its impact upon the and animal husbandry have been replaced by mod- globalization and accessibility of the education ern and effective techniques, leading to increasing in the health domain. Available on: www.ici.ro. sources of income for villagers. In this regard, ICT Azkiya, M. (2004). Rural development with em- office has placed the village Khosrow Shirin on phasis on Iranian rural community. Tehran: development plans, and the arrangements for ru- Ney publication. ral growth and development in social, economic, Castells, M. (2001). Information Age: economy, and cultural aspects, as well as villagers’ participa- Society, and Culture. Tehran: Tarhe-No. tion in civil and rural development have been made. Cigdem, A.C. (2008(. Analyzing digital divide ICT office has provided employment by introduc- within and between Member and Candidate ing better services, and prevented immigration to Countries of European Union, Government cities. ICT offices need more attention and sup- Information Quarterly, GOVINF-00529, and port by the government to provide better services PP. 4-7. so that the offices will not encounter depression in Ghavam, A. (1973). Comparative policies. Tehran: the event of any incident such as flood and draught. Samt, pp. 100-101. Giddens, A. (1987). Sociology, (H. Chavoshian tr.). Recommendations Tehran: Ney Publication. Khosravi, K. (1979). Iranian rural Sociology, Teh- - Selling securities by ICT offices so that villag- ran: Payam Publication. ers take steps towards economic justice by partici- Mohseni, M. (2001). Sociology of informational pating in purchasing securities. community. Tehran: Didar. - Paying economic subsidies Nouri, M. (2003). Information and communica- - Paying insurance for agricultural products tions technology, and rural poverty, Confer- - Paying the price of agricultural products such ence of applying information and communica- as wheat, barley, corn, etc. tions technology in village, Iran: University of - Providing all insurance services (insurance Science and Technology, Electronic research for agricultural products, social insurance for vil- center. lager, third party insurance) Rama, T.P. )2004(. ICT and E-Governance for Ru- - Increasing insurance limit for ICT office fund ral Development, Center for Electronic Gover- based on the absorbed resources so that liquidity nance, Indian Institute of Rural Manage- problems will be solved. ment, Ahmedabad, Poetics, 34, 211-235. - Allocating safe vehicles to agents exchanging Taleb, M. (2008). Rural Sociology, change and de- documents and bank bonds. velopment dimensions within Iranian - Allocating back-up computers to take back- rural community, Tehran university, Tehran. ups and using them in case of any impairment in Vehovar, V., Sicherl, P., Hüsing, T., & Dolnicar, V., operators of banking services (2006). Methodological Challenges of Digital - Increasing the payment of contractors for ICT Divide Measurements, The Information Soci- offices, the absorbed resources of which are low. ety, 22, 279-290.

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