With nearly 40 per cent of the population of 1.2 billion falling below the poverty line, and more than 30 per cent of the population being illiterate, India has its hands full when it comes to delivering basic facilities to its citizens.
That nearly 90 per cent of the population is not digitally literate is a startling statistic that needs immediate rectification if India is to empower its rural youth with adequate job opportunities, and move towards becoming an economic powerhouse.
While India is the second largest growing mobile market in the world, it lags behind severely in Internet connectivity and digital literacy. Connecting communities in rural areas to the rest of the world is unheard of –– and yet it remains a vital component for communities in the remotest parts of India.
While the task is, no doubt, challenging, several new strategies can be adopted to bring about digital empowerment among the rural communities. This is especially important to give rural youth the push they need to succeed in an increasingly digitised world.
Introducing a strong programme
A strong digital literacy programme will encourage rural youngsters to acquire more skills, which will eventually lead to an increase in job opportunities. Training institutions and private organisations must take advantage of smartphone penetration in rural areas, especially in light of a report by KPMG and IAMAI, which states that India will reach 314 million mobile Internet users by 2017. With a constant tug-of-war between resources and requirements, technology is the only way to scale up solutions.
The concept of delivering to the last mile has been a challenge that India has not yet been able to overcome –– and this reflects in the lack of Internet penetration in rural regions. The government needs the support of NGOs and other private establishments to make the youth and people of rural India part of India’s modernisation by empowering them with digital literacy –– not only changing their lives, but the fortunes of India’s economy as a whole.
What hampers Internet growth
Poor infrastructure, low bandwidth and undependable electricity have largely contributed to the lack of Internet growth. Poor Internet penetration has led to drastic consequences that could have been avoided. For example, nearly 3 lakh farmers have taken their lives in the last 20 years because of droughts, storms and heavy rains. Digital literacy could potentially address this problem by equipping farmers with better access to agricultural experts and even the government –– helping them take their concerns to the right people before small problems turn into major catastrophes. Quick technological access to experts will not empower farmers with the knowledge to counter crop-related problems but also help them learn of more sophisticated farming practices that will help them increase crop yields and earn more.
But the biggest limitation lies in the fact that the majority of India’s rural youth is digitally illiterate. This is a huge setback in India’s quest to lay claim to being a global power. Boasting the demographic advantage of a predominantly young population means little if the country cannot find ways to employ them usefully in the workforce. Enabling rural youth with Internet technologies is pivotal to achieving change in the country –– educating them about upcoming trends and business opportunities through digital literary programmes.
The role of Digital India
To support digital literary across rural India, the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLMP) programme was set up as a dynamic platform to facilitate digital awareness through capacity and education programmes. These programmes will help rural communities remain competitive, while shaping the development of a technologically powerful nation. The NDLM programme supplements the National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN) layout plan to educate every household about the power of digital literacy.
The NDLM programme aims to work with multiple stakeholders and partners to equip youth and senior citizens with basic computer skills –– effectively overcoming the last-mile challenge that has been plaguing India for decades. This programme is expected to be a complete ecosystem comprising education, training and digital literacy.
The government’s Digital India programme launched in 2015 is expected to drastically improve infrastructure and Internet connectivity in the rural areas, thereby solving the problem of low Internet penetration. This programme aims to help 250,000 Indian villages with phone and broadband connectivity. This ambitious reach cannot be achieved without public-private partnerships to make it attractive for telecom operators to install telecom towers for last-mile connectivity.
Collaboration across mobile network operators, the government and telecom infrastructure companies is critical to get companies to make the ₹20,000-crore investment in new telecom towers that is essential for digital literacy.
In keeping with this vision, the Global Success Foundation has been developing initiatives to empower rural senior citizens and youth with digitally literate programmes to elevate their status in society. Using training through e-learning, online and offline mediums, the Global Success Foundation has worked to ensure that rural youth and senior citizens learn both basic computer skills and smartphone usage to get access to better job opportunities and more information.
Progress through digital literacy
Bringing the Internet to rural India is a catalyst for growth, because of the opportunities it creates in business. The government, NGOs, private enterprises and other stakeholders must appreciate the potential of a digitally literate rural economy and take steps to achieving this.
While Digital India and the NDLM programme may be a little late in their penetration, the opportunities they present for the future are bright. Digital literacy generates economic, cultural and social advantages for rural youth and communities –– giving rural India the best opportunity to be part of the country’s emergence as a world leader.
The author is the Founder and Managing Trustee of the Global Success Foundation.