Given the demographic profile, there exists a need to increase the scale and scope of digital training in India. Elaborate (200 Words)
Refer - Business Line
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 3 years
KEY POINTS
· Absorption of information and communication technologies (ICT) has become the key for micro enterprises to evolve into growing sustainable businesses.
· However, digital adoption among businesses has been uneven across sectors and the persisting digital divide poses a serious challenge for India’s rural population.
· Women in particular often have less access to digital technology than their male counterparts. Thus, there exists a need to increase access to information and communication technology among women in rural areas.
· IIT Madras’ evaluation of digital literacy-training programme to empower around 57,000 women and youth in Tamil Nadu reveals interesting facets. The training enabled them to use digital technologies to carry out their business/enterprises.
· The use of smartphones as a way to connect with the online world is increasing along with the emphasis through various initiatives in technology to bridge the digital divide through “digital literacy learning”.
· At the meso-level, the use of Apps leads to better family networks and bonding. This has been facilitated largely through video call facilities.
· At the macro-level there are larger social benefits such as access to various government schemes and e-governance initiatives, which in the long term would result in more demand and the use of public goods due to the awareness created by the use of smartphones.
