PMGDISHA Achieves 6.39 Crore Digital Literacy Milestone

The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), launched to bridge the digital literacy gap in rural India, has successfully trained 6.39 crore individuals, surpassing its target of 6 crore rural households as of March 31, 2024. This initiative, under the Digital India Programme, aimed to empower one member per rural household with essential digital skills. The scheme was implemented nationwide through training centers under the supervision of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with State Implementing Agencies.

Scheme Objectives and Achievements

Background: The 71st NSSO Survey (2014) revealed that only 6% of rural households owned computers, highlighting a massive digital divide. PMGDISHA was initiated to address this gap by targeting 6 crore rural households, ensuring digital inclusion for underserved groups such as SC/ST, women, and differently-abled individuals.

Milestone Achieved: As per the scheme’s outcome:

• 7.35 crore individuals enrolled, of which 6.39 crore were trained, and 4.78 crore certified.
• Digital literacy enables beneficiaries to perform cashless transactions, access online government services, and use IT tools to enhance livelihoods.

Implementation Process: The training program spanned 20 hours over 10-30 days, covering basics like device functionality, internet browsing, cashless payments, and online services. Priority was given to non-smartphone users, BPL households, and school dropouts.

State-Wise Highlights

States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra led with the highest trained candidates, achieving 74.12 lakh, 1.45 crore, and 53.23 lakh individuals respectively. Smaller regions like Lakshadweep and Manipur had limited participation due to demographic constraints.

Complementary Initiatives in IT and AI

Under MeitY’s broader vision to establish India as an IT and AI skills hub, initiatives like India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS) and North East BPO Promotion Scheme (NEBPS) incentivized IT/ITES growth in smaller towns, while the FutureSkills PRIME program, in collaboration with NASSCOM, focused on re-skilling/up-skilling in emerging technologies like AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity.

Impact on Digital Literacy and Nation Building

PMGDISHA’s success underscores India’s commitment to becoming a digitally inclusive society. The program aligns with the Digital India vision, ensuring rural participation in democratic and developmental processes while enhancing employability and livelihood opportunities.

Summary of the news