Abhishek Behl

Enablers and barriers of mobile banking opportunities in rural India: a strategic analysis

The development of financial inclusive sector in India has been promising with mobile technology playing a prominent role. The rate of growth of rural teledensity is phenomenal. Mobile banking (M-Banking) has therefore proved to be a win-win situation for both banks and telecom companies. On a parallel track, it is seen that acceptance and adoption of mobile as a channel has been an issue in rural areas. There seems to be dearth of analysis of factors resulting in the slow rate of growth. This paper attempts to dig out barriers and enablers of M-Banking in rural India and weave them using an interpretive structural modelling (ISM). The model results in connecting the dots and help the policy makers of banks and telecom companies analyse the issues faced at various levels. The results will add to the body of literature and simultaneously help practitioners to understand the various levels of implementation.

Role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Participatory Democracy: a Forerunner to an Egalitarian Society

Governance is being intensely impacted by Information and Communications Technology (ICT) with respect to bolstering government operations, drawing in body politic, provision of public goods and rendering key government services. Commensurate with the objectives of participatory democracy, an extensive variety of electronic correspondence vehicles, for example, the Internet and email are being deployed to improve citizen engagement. The present study intends to explore the factors involved in e-participation as well as the expanse of e-governance in India. By drawing out variables from extant literature, the study proceeds toward identifying peoples participation in e-governance, the circumstances that bolster such participation, factors responsible for reduced involvement, and steps that may be initiated for enhanced involvement and engagement in future. It is understood that peoples participation in electronic democracy is contingent upon several factors such as privacy, technical support, accessibility, integrity, open access to every stakeholder, clarity in agenda of discussion, perceived risk of identity, as well as awareness and popularity of electronic media. In a nutshell, the study contributes towards building a bond between the trio -technology, governance and individuals.

Environment sound technologies: exploring and modelling barriers using modified UTAUT model

The world is a competitive arena where survival is dependent on sustainability. Environment has gradually changed and had influenced the sustainable development in the recent past. The changing era of technology has played a vital role in enhancing sustainable development through environmental ecosystem. This paper explores a niche area of environmentally sound technology (EST) to understand the holistic view of sustainable development through the microscope of society in India. This paper aims at exploring the barriers in adoption of EST in rural India and modelling the barriers in a revised unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model. It also projects revision in the model by adding moderating effect of prior experience, gender and age of end users to understand the change in behavioural intention of the user in rural areas. The results reflect difference in behavioural intention and degree of usage for different age groups and gender. The results derived from primary data collection showcase a classified result of barriers clearly justifying the moderating effect by each of the external factors. The revised UTAUT model is one of the few models knit for EST in a rural dynamics like India.