Madhav AgarwalAIR 16 · CSE 2024 · 169 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening
With the cheapest internet prices in the world along with deepening of smart phone usage, digital tools in welfare have become an imperative rather than a Plan B.
Body · points and prose
Profound impact
-> Affordable net prices = eg: Jio, Airtel
-> Smartphone usage: more than 700 million smartphone users.
Necessitated use of digital tools:
For wider reach: easily deliver ration through e-POS in PDS system.
For lesser leakage: enabled by Direct Benefit transfer to the beneficiaries. (eg: PM KISAN Yojana)
Tailored and customized solutions:
- eg: One Nation one Class program on Television.
- To reduce ghost beneficiaries:
- eg: Aadhaar linkage reduced 2 crore ghost beneficiaries from ration card.
- Greater transparency and accountability by developing audit trail.
- Targetting Neglected Vulnerable Sections:
- eg: Helpline -> for elderly: ELDERLINE
- -> for mental health
- Reduces cost per transaction in ensuring welfare through financial inclusion:
- eg: 500 transfered to SHGs in Garib Kalyan Yojana.
Yet it creates challenges
-> Digital divide:
[30%] women access to Internet (NFHS-5)
-> Regional divide: Teledensity of
Urban (~160%), Rural (~40%)
-> Inter-operability issues, repair costs
-> Higher cost of initial setup, repair costs
-> e-waste concerns
Close · a way forward
The shift to digital has to be made inclusive first. Schemes such as PM WANI, PMGDISHA, etc must be taken on war footing, as India shines when "all shine together".