The term “digital divide” refers to the gap that exists between populations and geographic regions that have access to contemporary information and communications technology and those that do not or have restricted access to such technologies.
India is recognized internationally for the quality of its information technology (IT) services but is struggling with a significant digital divide due to the fact that only a small percentage of its people has access to the Internet.
It was initiated in the year 2015 by Google India and Tata Trusts. This program’s name means “Internet Sharing.” The women living in rural areas of India are the target audience for this project, and its goal is to improve their digital literacy.
The Optical Fibre Network, or NOF-N, is a project whose goal is to bring high-speed Internet access to more than two lahks (200,000) gram panchayats in India.
The DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) platform DIKSHA is the national platform for school education that was introduced in September 2017 and is available for use by all states as well as the central government for grades 1 through 12.
DIKSHA is the ‘one nation; one digital platform’ for school education in India. It was introduced as a part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat plan and is a component of PM eVidya.
The Unnati Project, which is run by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), is an initiative that aims to eliminate the digital divide in India’s educational institutions by providing disadvantaged rural kids with the opportunity to receive a computer education.
India has tried to bridge the digital divide by enacting some programmes like Digital India, efforts to make India a cashless economy, and Pradhan Mantri Grameen Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), which is aimed at spreading digital literacy among the rural population. This is in recognition of the fact that digital literacy is an important force for good governance and transparency. In order to effectively address these concerns, a multi-pronged approach that is distributed throughout a number of different ministries and departments is required.
Practice Question
Question. Discuss the issues related to the Digital Divide in India and suggest suitable measures for the same.
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The digital divide refers to the gap between populations and regions that have access to modern information and communication technologies (ICT) and those that don't or have limited access.
India, known for its IT services, faces a significant digital divide as only a small percentage of its population has internet access. In 2014, only around 18 out of every 100 people used the internet.
Southern states have higher computer literacy compared to their Northern counterparts. Rural areas have lower digital literacy compared to urban areas, creating a divide known as the "Bharat-India" divide. English proficiency also affects digital literacy levels.
The digital divide hampers social development, economic growth, education, political empowerment, and transparency. It creates disparities in accessing opportunities and services, hindering overall progress.
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