Need to Bridge the Digital Divide with Better Internet Accessibility

Males and females are severely discriminated against in India. It is shocking to learn that only 29 per cent of Indian women use the internet and that only 65.46 per cent of Indian women are literate. This greatly widens the gender gap.

According to the "India Inequality Report 2022: Digital Gap," barely one-third of the Indian internet users are women, marking the great digital divide. The research evaluates primary data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy's (CMIE) household survey from January 2018 to December 2021, which is the leading provider of business information. It serves as both a think tank for economic policy and a source of corporate intelligence data. To evaluate the inclusiveness of digital initiatives to deliver public services and entitlements, CMIE statistics on internet access, mobile ownership, computer availability, and broadband availability are looked at.

Gender-based divide

Even though 61 per cent of males owned mobile phones in 2021, only 31 per cent of them had access to the internet. Compared to men, Indian women are 33 per cent less likely to use mobile internet services and 15 per cent less likely to own a mobile phone. According to the survey, India performs the lowest in Asia-Pacific, with the largest gender-based technology gap at 40.4 per cent.

Caste- and occupation-based divide

In 2021, 95 per cent of salaried permanent employees had a phone, compared to 50 per cent of those who are unemployed (but looking for work) and willing. Less than 1 per cent of the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 2 per cent of the Scheduled Castes (SC) could afford a computer or laptop, compared to 8 per cent of the general caste.

Urban-rural divide

Only 31 per cent of the rural population utilises the Internet, compared to 67 per cent of their urban counterparts, despite a substantial digital growth rate of 13 per cent in a year. Contrary to popular opinion, less people are using computers in rural regions, according to the survey.

Unbalanced distribution between states

The states with the highest internet penetration are Maharashtra, Goa, and Kerala, whereas the states with the lowest penetration are Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. 

The growing disparity in India is made worse by the difference in internet accessibility. The inequalities in India are getting worse as a result of the usage of digital technologies in the delivery of basic services like health and education. Several parents encountered difficulties facilitating their children's access to digital education during the COVID-19 lockdown, with signal strength and internet speed emerging as the primary concerns in private institutions. Many parents in government schools claimed that no instruction took place during the lockdown. The paper emphasises how only affluent and privileged people could properly access the internet. Because it is more difficult for them to obtain public services like education and health care, those without access to electronics and the internet become even more marginalised.

Ranking of India in UN's e-participation index (2022)

According to the research, India ranks 105th out of 193 countries in the UN's e-participation ranking (2022). The index is a combined measurement of three crucial aspects of e-government, including internet accessibility, connectivity to telecommunications, and human capacity.

The report recommended the federal and state governments to ensure that everyone has access to internet connectivity by making investments in digital infrastructure that will not only make the internet more affordable but also work to make smartphones more accessible. The research suggested holding digital literacy camps, particularly in rural India, to teach students how to use technology in the classroom and to digitise panchayats. It also advised the government to set up a grievance handling system that is responsive and accountable to deal with issues about educational and medical technology.

Challenges associated with digital divide

Population: Serving a population of 1.30 billion people uniformly is difficult for a developing nation. This is one of the challenges in India. All policies and projects should be implemented on a big scale while keeping the future in mind.

Geographic Diversity: Due to its location, rural India continues to lack access to urban India's amenities. The roads and other infrastructure are not well-connected.

Poverty and illiteracy: A sizable portion of the population struggles to meet their daily necessities. They are unconcerned about digitization and high-speed technology. They worry more about finding food and a place to live. A significant portion lacks literacy and is unable to use technology, according to a census in 2011.

Lack of Infrastructure: As a densely populated country, India needs well-developed infrastructure to supply e-services. Nonetheless, there are still some isolated rural areas without Internet access.

Gender Divide: Males and females are severely discriminated against in India. It is shocking to learn that only 29 per cent of Indian women use the internet and that only 65.46 per cent of Indian women are literate. This greatly widens the digital divide.

Corruption: The pest of government is corruption. Politicians and other stakeholders aim to reap illicit gains for themselves at every level of the government structure. A big portion of the budget that is decided at a higher level cannot reach the common population owing to corrupt middlemen.

Absence of Participation: Rural residents are frequently found to be less interested in web-based e-government services for a variety of reasons. They frequently fear technology, and occasionally they are even unaware that there are solutions available that can assist in solving their difficulties.

Efforts taken by government

The goal of the Digital India Initiative is to make India a knowledge-based society and economy. India currently has more than 75 billion cellphones, 133 billion Aadhar cards, more than 80 billion internet users, 4G, and is quickly moving towards 5G.

Conclusion

The technology gap has to be bridged in the nooks and corners of the country if a Digital India is the aim of the government. Without access to affordable and fast internet services, digitization of the services will fail to achieve its purpose.

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