Lok Sabha Question No. 3586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Digital Literacy Under PMGDISHA
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Kaushal Kishore, P.P. Chaudhary, Aparajita Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3586

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 17.03.2021

## DIGITAL LITERACY UNDER PMGDISHA

## 3586.    SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE: SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY: SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI:

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

- (a) the  number  of  individuals  trained  and  certified  as  digitally  literate  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Digital  Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) as on date, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the target fixed by the Government with regard to making people digitally literate under the said Abhiyan;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to achieve the target set under the programme;
- (d) whether the implementation of the scheme has been slow in Odisha and Rajasthan and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (e) the number of awareness workshops held in the State of  Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan till date under the PMGDISHA; and
- (f) whether the Government expects the PMGDISHA to increase the reliance on digital transactions and if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) and(b):  Government of India had 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) in February 2017. Under the PMGDISHA Scheme, as on 12.03.2021, around 4.54 Crore candidates have been  enrolled  and  around  3.69  Crore  candidates  have  completed  the  training  out  of  which  more  than  2.71  Crore candidates have been certified. The state/ UT wise targets and status is at Annexure .

(c): The implementation of the Scheme is carried out through CSC e-Governance Services India Private Limited (CSC-SPV) through training centres/Common Service Centres(CSCs) located at the Gram Panchayat level. All the authorised training centres/CSCs can register and train candidates from specified area of Gram Panchayat across the country as per the prescribed eligibility criteria. To ensure equitable geographical reach, each of the 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats across the country are envisaged to register an average of  200-300 candidates.

(d):  In the state of Odisha, against the stipulated target of 25,17,000, as on 12.03.2021, a total of 24,80,401 candidates have been enrolled and 19,57,129 have been trained, out of which 14,70,629 candidates have been duly certified.

In the state of Rajasthan, against the stipulated target of 37,12,000, as on 12.03.2021, a total of 22,46,741 candidates have been enrolled and 17,73,993 have been trained, out of which 13,00,509 candidates have been duly certified.

Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in widespread impact on the implementation of PMGDISHA scheme across the country including the states of Odisha and Rajasthan. Due to COVID-19 and ensuing Lockdowns imposed by Central /State Governments, the training centres had to be kept closed for around six months. After the easing  of  lockdown  restrictions  in  September  2020,  the  enrolment,  training  and  certification  activities  have  been opened up in a phased manner while following the social distancing norms. Now the Scheme implementation has picked up across the country including in the states of Odisha and Rajasthan. After the onset of pandemic, a total of 90,14,374  candidates  have  been  registered,  65,34,990  candidates  have  been  trained,  out  of  which  55,85,613 candidates have been duly certified across the country. Since the onset of pandemic, in the state of Odisha, 3,02,217

candidates  have  been  registered,  1,89,796  candidates  trained  and  2,09,531  candidates  certified  and  in  the  State  of Rajasthan, 4,07,541 candidates have been registered, 2,83,577 candidates trained and 2,20,993 candidates certified.

- (e). Regular workshops and training sessions for various stakeholders engaged in implementation of the Scheme have been  organized  in  various  states/  UTs  since  the  inception  of  the  PMGDISHA  scheme.  Since  March  2020,  such workshops have been organized virtually due to the pandemic situation. A total of 302, 126 and 123 state/district level workshops have been organised in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan respectively.

(f). Special focus of the PMGDISHA Scheme is on training the beneficiaries on use of Electronic Payment System. The outcome measurement criteria include undertaking at least 5 electronic payments transactions by each beneficiary using UPI (including BHIM app), USSD, PoS, AEPS, Cards, Internet Banking. This increases the confidence level of the  beneficiaries  to  carry  out  digital  transactions.  The  3 rd party  assessment  of  PMGDISHA  scheme  conducted  by Indian  Institute  of  Public  Administration  (IIPA),  New  Delhi,  indicates  that  over  70.5%  of  the  respondents  have mentioned using the digital means for various financial services like banking, digital payments, etc.

*******

| States/Union Territories-wise targets and achievements under PMGDISHA Scheme (No. of candidates as on 12.03.2021)   | States/Union Territories-wise targets and achievements under PMGDISHA Scheme (No. of candidates as on 12.03.2021)   | States/Union Territories-wise targets and achievements under PMGDISHA Scheme (No. of candidates as on 12.03.2021)   | States/Union Territories-wise targets and achievements under PMGDISHA Scheme (No. of candidates as on 12.03.2021)   | States/Union Territories-wise targets and achievements under PMGDISHA Scheme (No. of candidates as on 12.03.2021)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                                                                                              | State Name                                                                                                          | Registered                                                                                                          | Trained                                                                                                             | Certified                                                                                                           |
| 1                                                                                                                   | Andaman and Nicobar Islands                                                                                         | 296                                                                                                                 | 95                                                                                                                  | 35                                                                                                                  |
| 2                                                                                                                   | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                      | 9,37,801                                                                                                            | 6,80,237                                                                                                            | 4,80,125                                                                                                            |
| 3                                                                                                                   | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                   | 3,278                                                                                                               | 1,116                                                                                                               | 797                                                                                                                 |
| 4                                                                                                                   | Assam                                                                                                               | 21,86,085                                                                                                           | 17,28,175                                                                                                           | 13,81,346                                                                                                           |
| 5                                                                                                                   | Bihar                                                                                                               | 47,85,570                                                                                                           | 39,90,836                                                                                                           | 28,61,081                                                                                                           |
| 6                                                                                                                   | Chandigarh*                                                                                                         | 0                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                   |
| 7                                                                                                                   | Chhattisgarh                                                                                                        | 24,24,233                                                                                                           | 20,19,631                                                                                                           | 15,10,315                                                                                                           |
| 8                                                                                                                   | Dadra and Nagar Haveli                                                                                              | 1,455                                                                                                               | 521                                                                                                                 | 339                                                                                                                 |
| 9                                                                                                                   | Daman and Diu                                                                                                       | 1,151                                                                                                               | 598                                                                                                                 | 404                                                                                                                 |
| 10                                                                                                                  | Delhi                                                                                                               | 383                                                                                                                 | 227                                                                                                                 | 169                                                                                                                 |
| 11                                                                                                                  | Goa                                                                                                                 | 2,116                                                                                                               | 1,172                                                                                                               | 882                                                                                                                 |
| 12                                                                                                                  | Gujarat                                                                                                             | 20,12,411                                                                                                           | 16,94,065                                                                                                           | 12,25,654                                                                                                           |
| 13                                                                                                                  | Haryana                                                                                                             | 16,13,032                                                                                                           | 13,33,366                                                                                                           | 9,96,885                                                                                                            |
| 14                                                                                                                  | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                    | 2,66,285                                                                                                            | 1,79,335                                                                                                            | 1,28,844                                                                                                            |
| 15                                                                                                                  | Jammu and Kashmir                                                                                                   | 3,41,250                                                                                                            | 2,49,522                                                                                                            | 1,84,559                                                                                                            |
| 16                                                                                                                  | Jharkhand                                                                                                           | 19,25,259                                                                                                           | 14,97,421                                                                                                           | 10,78,908                                                                                                           |
| 17                                                                                                                  | Karnataka                                                                                                           | 7,95,250                                                                                                            | 5,98,849                                                                                                            | 3,94,845                                                                                                            |
| 18                                                                                                                  | Kerala                                                                                                              | 44,498                                                                                                              | 20,793                                                                                                              | 16,533                                                                                                              |
| 19                                                                                                                  | Lakshadweep                                                                                                         | 37                                                                                                                  | 12                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                   |
| 20                                                                                                                  | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                      | 36,49,646                                                                                                           | 29,96,480                                                                                                           | 21,37,838                                                                                                           |
| 21                                                                                                                  | Maharashtra                                                                                                         | 28,05,215                                                                                                           | 22,16,328                                                                                                           | 15,78,438                                                                                                           |
| 22                                                                                                                  | Manipur                                                                                                             | 9,614                                                                                                               | 5,309                                                                                                               | 3,327                                                                                                               |
| 23                                                                                                                  | Meghalaya                                                                                                           | 74,635                                                                                                              | 51,504                                                                                                              | 32,819                                                                                                              |
| 24                                                                                                                  | Mizoram                                                                                                             | 7,689                                                                                                               | 5,332                                                                                                               | 3,087                                                                                                               |
| 25                                                                                                                  | Nagaland                                                                                                            | 5,148                                                                                                               | 3,716                                                                                                               | 2,730                                                                                                               |
| 26                                                                                                                  | Odisha                                                                                                              | 24,80,401                                                                                                           | 19,57,129                                                                                                           | 14,70,629                                                                                                           |
| 27                                                                                                                  | Puducherry                                                                                                          | 11,823                                                                                                              | 8,237                                                                                                               | 5,557                                                                                                               |
| 28                                                                                                                  | Punjab                                                                                                              | 12,61,362                                                                                                           | 10,28,742                                                                                                           | 7,82,648                                                                                                            |
| 29                                                                                                                  | Rajasthan                                                                                                           | 22,46,741                                                                                                           | 17,73,993                                                                                                           | 13,00,509                                                                                                           |
| 30                                                                                                                  | Sikkim                                                                                                              | 784                                                                                                                 | 579                                                                                                                 | 240                                                                                                                 |
|                                                                                                                     | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                          | 8,16,242                                                                                                            | 6,31,284                                                                                                            | 4,50,792                                                                                                            |
| 31 32                                                                                                               | Telangana                                                                                                           | 5,90,215                                                                                                            | 4,51,718                                                                                                            | 3,17,087                                                                                                            |
| 33                                                                                                                  | Tripura                                                                                                             | 1,64,046                                                                                                            | 1,08,975                                                                                                            | 82,773                                                                                                              |
| 34                                                                                                                  | Uttarakhand                                                                                                         | 4,63,804                                                                                                            | 3,61,637                                                                                                            | 2,68,585                                                                                                            |

## Annexure

| 35    | Uttar Pradesh   | 1,19,55,912   | 1,01,39,399   | 74,98,502   |
|-------|-----------------|---------------|---------------|-------------|
| 36    | West Bengal     | 16,06,429     | 12,52,374     | 9,55,215    |
| 37    | Ladakh          | 1,664         | 1,198         | 895         |
| Total | Total           | 4,54,91,760   | 3,69,89,905   | 2,71,53,392 |

* Chandigarh falls under urban agglomerations hence not covered under the scheme.

*******