Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has started the PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan intending to spread digital literacy among all sections of the Indian society, especially rural India. The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan is an extension of the ”Digital India” initiative of the Government of India with the main intention to modify India into a society that is digitally empowered and create a knowledge economy.
Rural India contributes 46 percent of India’s National Income, with almost two-thirds of its population residing in rural areas. It is reckoned that by the year 2050, despite urbanization, more than half of the population of India will still reside in rural areas. To increase the contribution of the rural Indians to the inclusive development and overall growth of the nation, the Government has been emphasizing the Digitization of the rural areas and meets the rising demands of unreached rural India. The digitization of rural India will help in empowering the rural citizens and make them available all the government services and aids through the electronic media at the village and gram panchayat level.
Background of Pradhan Mantri Digital Saksharta Abhiyan
According to the 71st NSSO Education Survey, only 6 percent of rural India have access to a computer and are digitally illiterate. The Pradhan Mantri Digital Saksharta Abhiyan is launched under the Digital India initiative of the Government of India to make 6 crore rural households to be digitally literate. With the digitization of rural India, the government aims to empower its citizens by enhancing the skills and knowledge to operate computers and access digital devices.
The PM Shri Narendra Modi has emphasized cashless transactions by launching the PM Digital Saksharta Abhiyan by increasing the use of mobile banking, Unified Payment Interface (UPI), Aadhaar Enabled Payment (AEPS), and Digital wallets, etc.
Features
Following are the features of Pradhan Mantri Digital Saksharta Abhiyan-
- PM Digital Saksharta Abhiyan is one of the biggest digital initiatives in the whole world.
- Training to around 25 lakh candidates will be provided in the Financial Year 2016-2017, to 275 lakhs in Financial Year 2017-2018, and 300 lakhs in the Financial Year 2018-2019.
- About 250,000s Gram Panchayat is expected to enroll on an average of 200 to 300 candidates and make use of the Information Technology and contributes towards building a strong nation.
- Digital Saksharta Abhiyan is expected to literate people on various digital platforms and operates computers, tablets, smartphones, browse the internet, search any information, making money transactions, emails, and apply in government services.
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is accountable for implementing the PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan in collaboration with all the States & Union Territories through their respective State Implementing Agencies, District e-Governance societies, etc.
Eligibility Criteria for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Saksharta Abhiyan
Following are the eligibility criteria for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Saksharta Abhiyan-
- The PM Gramin Saksharta Abhiyan scheme applies to the rural areas of India.
- The eligible household under the scheme is a unit consisting of a spouse, head of family, parents, and children. The households eligible under the scheme will include all such households where no family member is digitally literate not know to operate computers.
Entry Criteria
The criteria for entry under the Gramin Saksharta Abhiyan include the following-
- The beneficiary of the scheme must be digitally literate and training will be provided to only one person per eligible household.
- The beneficiary must be between the age group of 14 to 60 years.
- Antodaya households, non-smartphones users, college drop-outs, digitally illiterate schools from classes 9th to 12th, and adult literary mission participants will be prioritized under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Saksharta Abhiyan.
Training Process under Digital Gramin Saksharta Abhiyan
Following are the details of the training process of the scheme-
- The training program will consist of a total twenty hours duration that will be completed in a minimum of 10 days and a maximum of 30 days.
- The candidate applying under the scheme must be competent in the following;
- Must have a basic understanding of the functions, navigation, and terminologies of the digital devices.
- Such a digital device must be used to create, manage, share, and access the relevant information.
- The internet browser must be used responsibly.
- Make use of the Digital Locker through the online citizen-centric services.
- Making the use of cashless digital transactions through various tools like UPI, USSD, eWallet, PoS, and AEPS.
Training Partners
The following are the requirements for becoming training partner under PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan-
Role of Training Partners under PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan
The role of the training partners under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan are as following-
- The training partners will be under an obligation to acquire or establish the Training Centers in the Gram Panchayats and identified Districts to impart training to the eligible candidates.
- The training partners will ensure that the Training Centers fulfill the requirements of the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan Scheme.
- The overall functioning of the Training Centers will be monitored under the jurisdiction of the Training Partners.
- The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) published by CSC-SPV will publish the norms and requirements for the Training Partners.
- The Training Partners shall report appropriately and precisely to their respective centers.
Documents Required for Training Partners
Any Company, organization, Institution, and Non-Government Organization can become the Training Partner by submitting the following documents-
- Registration Certificate
- Certificate of experience in Education and IT literacy
- Photostat of PAN card and IT return of last three years
- List of at least 10 Training Centers filling the information required by the PMU
- Audited Balance Sheet of the last three years
- Recognition certificate
- An affidavit attested by Notary
- Details of Bank Account of the society, organization, trust, institute, NGO together with a copy of the canceled cheque
Financial Assistance under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan
After acquiring the certification of candidates successfully by the Training Partners, CSC pays a Training Fee of Rupees 300 per candidate directly to the Training Partners. The Training Partners will be entitled to payments based on the targets achieved by them.
Rupees 70 as an examination fee or certificate cost per candidate will be paid to the registered certifying agencies for providing the assessment and certifications. The States and the Union Territories will be entitled to Rupees 2 per candidate for meeting the overhead expenses and supervising the Pradhan MantriGramin Digital SakshartaAbhiyan Scheme.
Impact of Digitization on Rural Economy
Following are the positive impact of digitization on rural India-
- Digitization in the rural areas of India will help in generating more employment opportunities.
- With the increased use of internet services in India, the rural community has been raising its standard of living and has become more aware.
- The rural communities are making full use of the technology by obtaining market-related information through online mode.
- Digitization has increased the e-literacy among rural youths by getting trained in computers and using the internet.
Conclusion
Digitization has played a very important role in changing the country and make use of technology more efficiently. Information Technology has helped save a lot of time of human life and made life better and easier not only for a particular individual but also for the entire community.
The Government of India by launching the ”Digital India” initiative to make available the government services in an electronic and digital platform and build the digital infrastructure and increase the internet’s speed. The PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan is a scheme launched as an extension of the ”Digital India” initiative with the primary aim to transform the rural communities and make them digitally active and more resourceful. As an Aatmnirbhar Sena, our organization lends all appropriate services and assists the Government and the needy beneficiaries. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has envisioned the dream of making India digitally powerful and makes rural areas to be more digitally equipped.
