Lok Sabha Question No. 700 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-20
Subject: Digital Literacy
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (MeitY)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 700

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 20.12.2017

## DIGITAL LITERACY

## 700.       SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that digital literacy among tribal youths is very low;
- (b) if  so,  whether  Government  is  considering  to  launch  any  scheme  for  speeding  digital literacy among tribal population; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ALPHONS KANNANTHANAM)

(a) to (c):   1.  As  per  National  Sample  Survey  Office (NSSO)  71st Round report on social consumption  relating  to  education,  the  proportion  of  households  in  the  country  having computer  during  2014  is  around  14%  (only  6%  of  rural  households  and  29%  of  urban households possessed computer). This highlights that more than 15 crore rural households (@ 94% of 16.85 crore households) do not have computers and a significant number of these households are likely to be digitally illiterate. No specific data on tribal youth is indicated in the said NSSO report.

2. Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) is implementing several programmes  which  have  benefitted  the  tribal  population.  Some  of  these  programmes  are given below:
2. (i) The Government of India has implemented two Schemes on providing digital literacy to the masses namely 'National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM)' and 'Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (DISHA)' with a cumulative target of 52.50 lakh persons (one person from every eligible household) across the country. The targets envisaged under NDLM and DISHA schemes have been successfully achieved in December 2016. A total number of 7,17,412 tribal candidates were certified under NDLM / DISHA schemes.
3. (ii) The  Government  has  approved  a  scheme  titled  'Pradhan  Mantri  Gramin  Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)' to usher in digital literacy in rural India by covering 6  crore  rural  households  (one  person  per  household)  by  31.03.2019.  The  scheme  is specifically  targeting  the  rural  population  especially  the  marginalized  sections  of society  including  Scheduled  Tribes.  Under  this  scheme,  the  states/UTs  with  major concentration  of  tribal  population  would  have  a  total  target  of  around  20  lakh beneficiaries. So far, under this scheme, total ST candidates enrolled are 7,91,913 out of which 7,66,926 were trained and 3,27,235 were certified.
4. (iii) Under  the  two  Schemes  for  Skill  Development  in  Electronic  System  Design  and Manufacturing (ESDM), so far, a total of 14,981 Scheduled Tribe candidates have been

enrolled  and  trained  ,  out  of  which  8,416  candidates  have  been  certified  as  on December, 2017.

- (iv) National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) is an autonomous  body  of  MeitY.  NIELIT  Centres  are  implementing  various  projects  / schemes for the upliftment of ST population in the area of Information Technology and Electronics. Under Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), the ST candidates are being trained free of cost at NIELIT Centres across the country. Some of these projects are as under:-
- a) A project entitled 'Empowering underprivileged (ST) youths and women of four backward districts of Nagaland through ICT skills training' is approved with an objective  of  training  1280  Tribal  youths  from  4(four)  backward  districts  of Nagaland in 150 hours ICT courses.  The project also envisages setting up ICT facility  in  4  backward districts  of  Nagaland viz. Mon, Longleng, Tuensang and Kiphire which will open avenues for youth to employ in Government and Private Sectors.    Till  date,  a  total  of  452  candidates  are  trained  and  44  candidates  are undergoing training.
- b) IT  Skills  and  e-Inclusion  through  low  cost  access  device  based  awareness programs for Scheduled Tribes of Kerala being implemented by NIELIT Calicut jointly  with  Amrita  Vishwa  Peetham,  Kollam  with  an  objective  to  provide training to 500 ST candidates in Diploma in Computer Application (DCA) course of  6  months.    1000  ST  candidates  were  trained  in  integrated  programme comprising of ACC course of NIELIT along with social awareness/ skill training or education using tablets at 15 tribal hamlets at Pallakkad (Attapadi), Idukki and Wayanad district of Kerala.  As against the target of 500 ST candidates in DCA course 500 candidates have completed training out of which 340 candidates have been certified and few have been placed & others have joined higher studies. In ACC course, 1000 ST candidates have been trained and 789 ST candidates has appeared for the exam out of which 758 candidates passed and 663 candidates have been certified.
- (v) Under  'IT  for  Masses'  Programme  which  targets  Women,  Scheduled  Caste  and Scheduled  Tribes,  projects  are  funded  for  providing  IT  training  including  Digital Literacy,  providing  IT  infrastructure  to  girls  schools,  women  colleges,  ST  schools (Eklavya,  Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika  Vidyalaya)  and  entrepreneurship  creation.  The following projects were implemented for Scheduled Tribes under this programme :-
- a) 'e-Inclusion: IT training for Rural Scheduled Tribe (ST), Scheduled Caste (SC) & Women Beneficiaries'- 17,147 ST candidates trained. The project is completed.
- b) 'IT Mass Literacy Programme for Scheduled Tribe (ST)' - 4,392 ST candidates trained. The project is completed.
- c) 'Capacity  building  of  1,260  ST  students  of  North  Orissa  University  and  its affiliated  colleges  in  IT  tools'  -  1,260  ST  candidates  trained.  The  project  is completed.
- d) 'IT  skills  &  e-Inclusion  through  low  cost  access  devices  based  awareness program for Scheduled Tribes - Kerala' - ICT infrastructure set up at 6 locations and so far,       1,283 ST candidates have been trained.

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