India’s Samriddh Gram – Integrated Phygital Service Delivery Model, built on BharatNet, has been nominated for the WSIS Prizes 2026 under the Action Line C6 – Enabling Environment category. The initiative aims to transform rural service delivery through Samriddhi Kendras, which function as community-based one-stop hubs for physical and digital services. It reflects a wider shift in telecom infrastructure from connectivity alone to inclusive development support.
What the Initiative Does
Samriddh Gram uses BharatNet’s broadband backbone to provide high-speed internet, FTTH connectivity and public Wi-Fi in villages. These facilities support telemedicine, smart classrooms, digital governance, financial inclusion, agricultural advisory services and e-commerce access. The model combines physical service points with digital platforms, hence the term phygital.
Why It Matters for Rural India
The initiative is designed to reduce the distance between citizens and essential services. It helps cut travel time and costs for rural households. It also improves access to healthcare, education and public services. Early outcomes point to better digital literacy, stronger livelihood opportunities and wider use of online services in remote areas.
Institutional and Development Significance
The project is led by the Department of Telecommunications under the Government of India. It is built as a scalable and sustainable model with community-based entrepreneurship at its core. This makes it suitable for replication across different geographies. The inauguration of India’s first Samriddhi Kendra at Umri village in Guna district, Madhya Pradesh, marked an important milestone in the initiative’s rollout.
WSIS Prizes and Global Context
The World Summit on the Information Society is a global multi-stakeholder platform focused on digital development and inclusive information societies. WSIS Prizes recognise ICT-based projects that support sustainable development. The public voting phase for WSIS Prizes 2026 is open, and the forum is scheduled in Geneva from 6 to 10 July 2026. The nomination places India’s rural digital inclusion model in a global policy and innovation framework.
Last Modified: April 27, 2026