Has digital illiteracy, particularly in rural areas, coupled with lack of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification.

(1) Rural-Urban Divide - Urban people are at better position to access the ICT infrastructure.

(2) Low penetration of Internet in rural areas. Private companies are reluctant to invest in rural areas due to expected low return.

(3) Digital Illiteracy - mainly among elderly, and uneducated people.

(4) Low pace of implementation of govt programmes like National digital fibre programme.

(5) Less training and awareness centres.

(6) Other factors include poverty, less integrated market, etc.

Fig - Digital divide is also related with Poverty

Important government Steps :-

(1) National Digital Fibre Network - to connect 2.5 lakh gram panchayats.

(2) Digital India - It includes various programmes and initiatives to reduce digital divide and digitize India in true sense.

Success of Digital India depends upon how successfully we can reduce digital divide.

(3) CSC - Common Service Centres - provide services in rural areas to people like filing of taxes, train reservation, death-birth certificates etc.

(4) BHOOMI - initiative by Karnataka govt to digitize land records.

(5) Smart phone distribution by various state Governments. In some places laptops are also distributed.

Some more measures which indirectly reduce digital divide are :-

(1) Making smart phones cheaper and other electronic items through reducing tariff and pushing for Make In India

(2) Awareness programmes, advertisements etc.

(3) e-governance