"There cannot be a situation of haves and have-nots and a digital divide in e-commerce if we really want to advance in this direction," Paswan said at a three-day seminar on Electronic Commerce Strategies for the Asia Pacific region which began here.

Stating that the rural population should get the benefit of larger market and better prices, Paswan said this would be possible only if they were made aware of e-commerce applications and its benefits.

There are problems of language which need to be addressed and the availability of computers and their penetration and affordability which has to be kept in mind, the minister said adding that better penetration of cable television and its utilisation for spread of Internet could be one solution.

Referring to the projections of Nasscom in which it estimated that e-commerce transactions in India would increase from Rs 450 crore in 2000 to Rs 3,500 crore by 2001 and Rs 15,000 crore by 2002, Paswan said this would require the benefits of Internet to spread to every part of the country.Paswan said establishment of sanchar dhabas was being planned at village panchayat levels which would help widen Internet access and e-commerce in the long-run.

The opening up of international gateway for private Internet service providers (ISPs) would also be a big boon for e-commerce, he added.In this regard, he announced that all block headquarters would have telephone facilities and all district headquarters Internet facilities by August 15.

The three-day seminar would focus on the current developments in electronic commerce in the Asia-Pacific region while deliberating upon the future course of action to be taken for the growth of e-commerce in the region.