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For a country such as India, one of the most important benefits of e-commerce is its potential to help a developing rural community to leap-frog into the knowledge paradigm. The positive effects of e-commerce can be magnified beyond purely commercial growth to have a profound impact on all aspects of rural community.
Most of the policy debates and proposals surrounding e-commerce are geared towards removing barriers and promoting opportunities for these new types of commercial activities to expand even more rapidly than they already are. In light of the potential impact of e-commerce on our rural community, a final category of issues can be seen as focusing more directly on the benefits to be gained from e-commerce, particularly the benefits that developing countries might achieve with successful strategies.

It is apparent that most of the major developments in this field have sprung from the private sector, and will continue to do so in the future. Government can, however, play an important role in examining the economic and social impact of e-commerce technologies and in promoting understanding and application of these technologies throughout Indian industries and communities. Various government agencies, through coordinated policies and programmes in conjunction with private sector partners and institutions, can help maximize the benefits of e-commerce by: -

The sections that follow present an overview discussion of the issues surrounding the impacts of e-commerce on rural community and the economy, along with some of the activities already taking place in India to promote the benefits of these developments. Finally, suggestions and questions for further policy responses are presented for consideration by Indian industry and government officials.

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* Contributed by: -
Sambit Kumar Mishra & Ashok Kumar Chandra,
Ph.D. Scholars,
Institute of Management,
Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur.