Bridging the Gender Digital Divide: A Prerequisite for Rural Women’s Empowerment
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A recent national survey highlights a persistent gap in smartphone ownership and digital literacy among rural women, despite the growth of Digital Public Infrastructure. This divide restricts access to financial services and healthcare, necessitating gender-responsive policy interventions.
A recent national survey has underscored a concerning trend in India’s digital journey: a persistent gender digital divide that disproportionately affects rural women. While India has gained global recognition for its robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—encompassing Aadhaar, UPI, and data exchange layers—the benefits of this revolution are not being equitably distributed. The survey reveals that a significant gap remains in smartphone ownership and functional internet literacy between men and women in rural hinterlands.
This digital chasm is not merely a matter of technology access but a critical barrier to socio-economic mobility. For rural women, the lack of a personal smartphone or the skills to navigate the internet translates into exclusion from digital financial services, online marketplaces for their produce, and essential healthcare information. In an era where government service delivery is increasingly 'digital-first,' this divide risks further marginalizing a population already grappling with patriarchal norms and limited physical mobility.
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