Bridging India's Digital Divide

When COVID-19 coursed through the country, the government responded with lockdowns that drove people towards digital marketplaces. Globally, digital adoption grew by five years in merely two months in 2020. India has set a target of reaching a US $1 trillion digital economies by 2025, a fivefold growth from the US $200 million in 2017–18.

While the situation propelled a rise in telehealth consultations, a shift towards online shopping with e-retail reaching several Indian districts, and digital payments touching the 100 million transactions per day, it also amplified another trend, a negative one: The gendered digital divide.

According to reports, Indian women are 15% less likely to own a mobile phone, and 33% less likely to use mobile internet services than men. In 2020, 25% of the total adult female population owned a smartphone versus 41% of adult men.

This biased digital divide is often born out of three main disadvantages. First, there is a rural-urban digital divide. For example, rural broadband penetration is only 29% against a national average of 51%.

Second, there is an income-based divide. Many households cannot afford to purchase a smartphone, and even if they do, they cannot afford a broadband connection. Third, there is discrimination within households that prevents women from freely accessing digital devices.

Some women are monitored while using the internet which in turn widens the already existing gender-based divide.

Younger women faced another crisis that prevented many from accessing education. After schools closed down and classes shifted to an online mode, the rural-urban digital divide was apparent. Not only did many students, especially girls, drop out of schools in rural areas, but also schools were forced to shut down owing to a lack of resources.

During this time, it was also apparent that families exhibited a preference for male children. They ensured sons had the privilege of using digital devices and data packs even when facing income constraints but did not extend the opportunity to their daughters.

On a more encouraging note, several concerted efforts were taken to enhance digital literacy. From offering financial support, at the community level, to providing digital devices and improving women’s livelihoods, many organizations stepped forward to help.

BharatCares, (a CSRBOX Foundation) is working towards empowering underprivileged women and girls through their initiative, Computer Training and Digital Literacy Program. It provides basic computer and digital literacy training for girls and women who have either dropped out from school or are currently pursuing their education.

The onsite training program opens up avenues for housewives and married women who want to get hands-on training in the digital literacy space. The one-month onsite training program led by instructors makes these women and girls digitally ready by providing training on basic computer skills, skills needed to navigate a smartphone, to create an email account and use it effectively, to make digital payments and more.

Since the launch of the initiative, a few months ago, four batches have been trained and more than 140 women benefited from the same.