Digital Divide in India

India comprises federal and state government with more then 3000 elected members from different houses from 29 states and 6 union territories. The population of India is more than 1 billion and internet penetration and usage in India percent is low. 142.7 million Mobile subscribers were reported in 2006 and a mobile penetration rate is 13%, the market in India still remains largely untapped. According to the study, television penetration in India is expected to increase 42 per cent by 2005 to 110 million homes, in comparison to the 79 million homes as of now. Cable connectivity, too, is likely to rise to 61 million homes by 2005 as against the current 38 million homes. In terms of percentage there is big digital divide in India.

There is great gap between users of ICT in India. India also has very high degree of social exclusion and society is divided in upper caste, backward caste and lower caste. Their old methods have not been completely washed away. Many people still believe in the caste system and treat others based on their caste. These problems lead to a more closed off climate where ICT can not flourish as greatly. The literacy rate is not much high in India but there is big human capital which is asset and several key advantages like: a large English-speaking population and world-class education, research and management institutions a direct result of investment in self-reliance in science and technology. The Indian Institutes of Technology and engineering colleges in many cities around India to produce good technical skills, the government have a computer policy to encourage R&D in personal computers.

Government of India attempt to increase ICT interaction with the people through E-government. Allowing Indian citizens to use the internet to perform tasks like getting and submitting forms. There have been case studies done on the benefits of E-government in India using the computerization of land records in state of Karnataka. Some other states such as Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have started to introduce applications which allow citizens to have faster and more transparent access to government services for example, the provision of information on laws and regulations, and the procuring of licenses and official documents online. The major problem is with corruption and transparency. Many of the local officials push back on the E-government front because the local officials know once those systems are in place they won't be able to take money under the table. The transparency that E-government provides gets in their way and makes it more difficult to cover their tracks. E-government will allow more of the government operations to be visible and help stem out corruption.


For reducing the digital divide I would suggest-

• To make policy which could connect and bridge the gap between E-government and digital divide.
• The linguist barriers are should actively address by the state governments. There are 12 languages for different sates and these all should have portal in widely in people used language.
• For reducing the digital divide there should be subsidies for poor and backward people so they could afford the technology.
• The portal and application should be user friendly so people with little literacy also can use.
• There should be fund allocation in every five year plan for bridge the gap.
• Private sectors also ask to encourage to bride digital divide.
• Public should give some incentives to engage for reducing digital divide.


Data Source:

http://www.domainb.com/economy/general/nov_2001/20011106_tv.html
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/india-best-bet-for-mobile-users/195400/