Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), 2017 – IMPRI Impact And Policy Research Institute

Policy Update
Sreedeep Bose

The Government of India introduced the “Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)” in 2017. This initiative focuses on boosting digital literacy in rural regions. Around 7. 35 crore people signed up for the program, with 6. 39 crore receiving training, leading to 4. 78 crore earning certification. Comprehensive statistics categorized by States/UTs are presented at the end. 

This initiative empowers rural citizens by equipping them with the skills to use computers or digital devices (such as tablets and smartphones), communicate via email, navigate the Internet, access government services, search for information, and perform cashless transactions. As a result, it enables them to leverage Information Technology to engage actively in nation-building efforts. The program’s objective is to close the digital gap, focusing on the rural demographic, particularly disadvantaged groups, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), minorities, those living below the Poverty Line (BPL), women, and individuals with disabilities.

Key aspects of the PMGDISHA program include: 

• The initiative focused exclusively on rural regions, specifically Gram Panchayat/Village, targeting 6 crore rural households, ensuring one participant from each household. 
• Participants underwent 20 hours of training divided into five modules: (i) Introduction to digital devices, (ii) Operating digital devices, (iii) Introductory concepts of the internet, (iv) Internet-based communications, and (v) Internet applications (including citizen-centric services) alongside the utilization of financial tools for conducting digital cashless transactions. 
• The training material was accessible in 22 scheduled languages plus English. This material was offered in both online and offline formats. Additionally, to support the government’s emphasis on promoting cashless transactions via mobile devices, training content on digital wallets, mobile banking, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS), and Point of Sale (PoS) was included. 
• Following the training, a third-party assessment of the candidates was conducted by recognized certifying bodies, including the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Haryana Knowledge Corporation Limited (HKCL), and ICT Academy of Tamil Nadu (ICTACT). Digitally Signed Certificates were issued to all successful participants and were directly uploaded to their DigiLocker accounts. 
• Additionally, the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), which operates under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), provides various skill development programs within the Information Technology and Electronics sector via its 52 centers, along with over 720 accredited institutes and more than 9,500 facilitation centers.

Goal of the PMGDISHA Scheme

Having at least one member in each family who is digitally literate is a crucial component of the prime minister’s “Digital India” initiative. 

The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan aims to enable six crore people in rural areas across states and union territories becoming digitally literate. This program targets around 40% of rural households by training one eligible member from each household by March 31, 2019. 

This initiative will empower rural residents by teaching them how to use computers or digital devices (like tablets and smartphones), send and receive emails, navigate the internet, access government services, search for information, and make digital payments, among other essential skills. It is designed to enable them to leverage information technology and related applications, particularly digital payments, to engage in the nation-building effort. This program aims to bridge the digital divide, with a specific focus on rural communities, including marginalized groups such as scheduled castes (sc), scheduled tribes (ST), minorities, individuals below the poverty line (BPL), women, and persons with disabilities. 

To empower an individual to achieve digital literacy, enabling them to use digital devices (such as tablets and smartphones), send and receive emails, explore the internet for information, and conduct digital payments, among other skills. 

Criteria for eligibility 

Nominated individuals from each eligible rural household who lack digital literacy. 

1. Age: between 14 and 60 years old 
2. Duration of the course: 20 hours (ranging from a minimum of 10 days to a maximum of 30 days) 
3. Language of teaching: the official languages of India 
4. Charge: zero cost 
5. Location of education: Eligible households may select one member from their family. The selected individual must register for this program at the closest training center or Common Service Center (CSC). 

States/UTs-wise achievements under the PMGDISHA Scheme

Chandigarh and Delhi are urban agglomerations, hence not covered under the scheme.

Conclusion

Digital literacy is one of the important mandates of CSC under the Digital India programme. CSCs have been striving to bridge the digital divide by providing digital literacy training to six crore citizens in rural areas, particularly focusing on women, youth, and marginalised sections of society, through the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA). So far, several citizens have been trained in the use of digital devices like computers and smartphones to access information online and make digital payments through the scheme.

References

• Venkatesan, S. (2003). Digital literacy in people with disabilities: an overview and narrative review. Global Journal of Arts Humanity and Social Sciences ISSN, 2583, 2034.
• Haldankar, G. B. DIGITAL INDIA–A KEY TO TRANSFORM INDIA.
• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2037600.
• https://www.data.gov.in/resource/statesuts-wise-number-achievements-under-pradhan-mantri-gramin-digital-saksharta-abhiyan

About the Contributor: Sreedeep Bose, who has qualified for the UGC NET in Ph. D, is dedicated to enhancing understanding in social science and public policy. With a focus on meaningful research, Sreedeep intends to provide creative solutions to current societal issues.

Acknowledgement: The author sincerely thanks Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja and the IMPRI fellows for their valuable contributions.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

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