Google India in collaboration with Tata Trusts have announced the expansion of their innovative Internet Saathi Program to rural areas in Punjab and Odisha. Initiated in 2015, the program is an endeavour to facilitate digital literacy among women in the far-flung areas of India.
Understanding Internet Saathi Program
Internet Saathi Program involves training rural women to make effective use of the internet and providing them with data-enabled devices. The trained women, known as ‘Internet Saathis,’ are then responsible for educating and assisting other women in their villages to start their journey on the internet. The training program not only empowers these women but also contributes significantly towards bridging the digital gender divide in rural India.
Expansion and Coverage of the Program
Originally piloted in Rajasthan, the Internet Saathi Program has progressively expanded to various states across the country. The list includes Gujarat, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. With the addition of Punjab and Odisha, the program will be within reach of even more rural women.
Table: Impact of Internet Saathi Program
| Year | Female to Male Ratio |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 in 10 |
| 2018 | 4 in 10 |
Achievements and Notable Progress
So far, the Internet Saathi Program has successfully trained about 70,000 ‘Internet Saathis’ who in turn have positively impacted around 26 million women in the country. The gender divide in rural digital literacy has also diminished over the past few years. In 2015, the female to male ratio was 1 in 10; however, it remarkably increased to 4 in 10 by 2018.
Economic Impact and Social Awareness
The program has not only imparted digital literacy but also sparked entrepreneurial spirit among the women. Many of these trained women have kick-started their micro-businesses such as stitching units, honey bee farming, and beauty parlours. Beyond the economic impact, the Internet Saathis are bringing about social awareness on crucial issues like girl child education and menstrual hygiene within their communities. Thus, the program is fostering digital empowerment directly linked with socio-economic changes in rural India.