Lok Sabha Question No. 4560 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-30
Subject: Objective of PMGDISHA
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Haji Fazlur Rehman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4560

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 30.03.2022

## OBJECTIVE OF PMGDISHA

## 4560. SHRI HAJI FAZLUR REHMAN:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYbe pleased to state:

- (a) the objectives of the Pradhan MantriGramin Digital SakshartaAbhiyan (PMGDISHA);
- (b) whether the efforts are being made by the Government to connect the villagers of the country under the aforesaid abhiyan and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the number of  youth in rural areas of the country who have benefited from the aforesaid abhiyan during the last two years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE  FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a):  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  MantriGramin Digital SakshartaAbhiyan(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.

- (b): The Government has taken up several steps to connect the villagers of the country under the PMGDISHA Scheme, whichinclude the following:-
- i. Scaling  up  the  awareness  and  promotional  activities  towards  Digital  literacy  through  campaigns, workshops, seminars, digital vans, etc.
- ii. In  order to  address the low internet  connectivity issues, Wifi-choupals have been established at remote locations.
- iii. Rural schools have been engaged for training and examination of candidates in order to penetrate the rural populous districts of identified states
- iv. Hon'ble  MPs/MLAs/District  Collectors  have  distributed  the  PMGDISHA  certificates  at  various  events organised by the local PMGDISHA team.
- v. Some rural schools have been engaged for training and examination of candidates in order to cover the rural populous districts.
- vi. 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.

(c): 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.

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