Information and communication technology (ICT) in general, and the
broadband Internet in particular, have been seen as a significant contributor to
the national gross domestic product (GDP). Enthusiasts and promoters claim
that the technologies, as a platform that is fair and equal to all, provide ways
out of poverty and exclusion for a significant population. They also point to
the intrinsic ability of the technologies to overcome social and geographical
disparities. Accordingly, the Nepali vision, policy and roadmap documents
on the ICTs, prepared by the government agencies, lobbying associations
and technology think-tanks set very progressive targets. Yet they do not have
strong empirical footing. Fundamental concerns, such as the appropriate
input device and contents for a majority of rural women and the lack of
initiatives to encourage inclusion of people with disabilities, remain by and
large obscure in these documents. Contexts of emerging federal structures and
democratic participation in governance make these issues more pertinent than
ever. Large-scale studies related to the access and use of digital technologies
could have made such issues clearer.