Skill development and creating skilled talent is an important mission to ensure that the rapidly growing Digital Economy of India is provided with the trained and skilled manpower that is required. To further aid digital adaption, the Ministry has focused on digital literacy for citizens across the country especially in rural areas. In line with this, the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan(PMGDISHA) was approved by Union Cabinet in February 2017 to usher in digital literacy in rural India.

The main objective of the PMGDISHA Scheme is to impart digital literacy training by covering 6 crore rural households (one person per household), so that they are able to operate computers/digital access devices (like tablets, smartphones, etc.), send and receive emails, browse internet, access Government Services, search for information, undertake cashless transactions, etc. and hence use IT to actively participate in the process of nation building.

The Government has taken up several steps to connect the villagers of the country under the PMGDISHA Scheme, which include the following:-

1. Scaling up the awareness and promotional activities towards Digital literacy through campaigns, workshops, seminars, digital vans, etc.
2. In order to address the low internet connectivity issues, Wifi-choupals have been established at remote locations.
3. Rural schools have been engaged for training and examination of candidates in order to penetrate the rural populous districts of identified states
4. Hon’ble MPs/MLAs/District Collectors have distributed the PMGDISHA certificates at various events organised by the local PMGDISHA team.
5. Some rural schools have been engaged for training and examination of candidates in order to cover the rural populous districts.
6. Various mechanisms have been adopted to disseminate information regarding the scheme to the intended beneficiaries such as word of mouth publicity, online, print & electronic media including posters, banners, radio, newspaper, television, social media etc.

 

The PMGDISHA Scheme covers candidates in the age group of 14-60 years. So far, around 5.66 crore candidates have been enrolled and 4.81 crore candidates have completed the training out of which 3.54 crore candidates have been certified under the scheme.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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RKJ/M

 

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