Digital Divide & Its Prevention (1)

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Digital divide & its prevention

Digital technologies have spread rapidly in much of the world. Digital dividends—the broader development benefits from using these technologies have lagged behind.
In many instances digital technologies have boosted Growth, expanded opportunities, and improved service delivery.
Yet their aggregate impact has fallen short and is unevenly distributed.
For digital technologies to benefi t everyone everywhere requires closing the remaining digital divide, especially in Internet access.
But greater digital adoption will not be enough.
To get the most out of the digital revolution, countries also need to work on the “analog complements”—by strengthening regulations that ensure competition among businesses, by adapting workers’ skills to the demands of the new economy, and by ensuring that institutions are accountable
The term digital divide describes the discrepancy between people who have access to and the Resources to use new information and Communication tools, such as the Internet, and people who do not have the resources and access to the technology.
The term also describes the discrepancy between those who have the skills, knowledge and abilities to use the technologies and those who do not.
The digital divide can exist between those living in rural areas and those living in urban areas, between the educated and uneducated, between economic classes, and on a global scale between more and less industrially developed nations

Table of Contents

Determinants of Digital Divide in India

As India is a multicultural, multi-language and multi-religion country with complex socio-economic conditions, there are six main difficulties in serving rural communities, each one of which has appeared insurmountable: POVERTY, Unemployment, age and Education.

There is huge gap of digital divide between rural and urban India where growth is biased in favour of urban areas; according to statistics, more than 75 per cent of the broadband connections in the country are in the top 30 cities
Some States are not able to adopt even one technology but others have adopted very efficiently.
It is not just about people who have access and those that do not; it is not just about haves and have-nots especially those who can communicate with the rest of the world and those that cannot.
Another important reason of digital divide in India is knowledge divide. Knowledge divide is directly related with digital divide.
Internet use is primarily associated with a large section of the English-knowing urban Population.
Added to these, the growing population, insufficient funds, affordability, and delays in implementation of government policies and programmes have been some of the challenges that have led to unequal development in the Society, which is responsible for digital divide.

The dividends: Growth, jobs, and service delivery

The benefits of digital technologies filter throughout the economy.
For businesses, the internet promotes inclusion of firms in the world economy by expanding trade, raises the productivity of capital, and intensifies competition in the marketplace, which in turn induces innovation.
It brings opportunities to households by creating jobs, leverages Human Capital, and produces consumer surplus. It enables citizens to access public Services, strengthens government capability, and serves as a platform for citizens to tackle collective action problems.
These benefits are neither automatic nor assured, but in numerous instances digital technologies can bring significant gains.

Challenges and Barriers to Bridging the Digital Divide

Infrastructural barriers: India still lacks a robust Telecommunication Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE with sufficient reliable bandwidth for Internet connection
Literacy and skill barriers: Education in information literacy will play an important role in keeping the society from fragmenting into a population of information haves and have–nots. The lack of skill in using computer and communication technology also prevents people from accessing digital information.
Economic barriers: Poor access to computer and communication technology also causes a digital divide. In India the ability to purchase or rent the tool for access to digital information is less among the masses.
Content barriers: To solve the digital divide, steps should be taken by the government to ensure that all citizens are able to receive diverse content relevant to their lives as well as to produce their own content for their communities and for the Internet.
Language barriers: Having a multicultural and multilingual population, today a large Percentage of information content on the Internet is in English, which is a barrier for the people whose primary language is not English.

The risks: Concentration, inequality, and control

When the internet delivers scale economies for fi rms but the business Environment inhibits competition, the outcome could be excessive concentration of market power and rise of monopolies, inhibiting future innovation.
When the internet automates many tasks but workers do not possess the skills that technology augments, the outcome will be greater inequality, rather than greater effi ciency.
When the internet helps overcome information barriers that impede service delivery but governments remain unaccountable, the outcome will be greater control, rather than greater Empowerment and inclusion.

What need to be done to bridge Digital Devide?

Regulations that promote competition and entry
Lower the barriers to digital adoption
Increase competition through eff ective regulation and enforcement
Skills for the digital economy
Start early with foundational skills
Rethink curricula and teaching methods
Develop advanced technological skills and encourage lifelong Learning
Institutions that are accountable to citizens
Strengthen e-government delivery and citizen engagement
Improve informational services and monitoring
Deepen collaboration and participatory policy making

Three Policies that should be followed by Government/Country

A business environment where firms can leverage the internet to compete and innovate for the benefit of consumers
Workers, entrepreneurs, and public servants who have the right skills to take advantage of opportunities in the digital world
An accountable government that effectively uses the internet to empower its citizens and deliver services

Policy/Programmes for Addressing the Challenges in Bridging the Digital Divide

India taking significant steps towards acquiring competence in information and technology, the country is increasingly getting divided between people who have access to technology and those who do not.
The Indian government has passed Information Technology Act, 2000 to make to E-Commerce and e-governance a success story in India along with national e-governance plan.
Steps are being taken to fulfil Universal Service Obligation (USO), funding, and administration.
The government allowed Mobile number portability (MNP) which enables mobile telephone users to retain their mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile Network operator to another.
National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), a project aimed to ensure broadband connectivity to over two lakh (200,000) gram panchayats of India by 2016

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan’ for covering 6 crore rural households

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved ‘Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan’ (PMGDISHA) to make 6 crore rural households digitally literate. The outlay for this project is Rs.2,351.38 crore to usher in digital literacy in rural India by March,.2019. This is in line with the announcement made by Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2016-17.
PMGDISHA is expected to be one of the largest digital literacy programmes in the world. Under the scheme, 25 lakh candidates will be trained in the FY 2016-17; 275 lakh in the FY 2017-18; and 300 lakh in the FY 2018-19. To ensure equitable geographical reach, each of the 250,000 Gram Panchayats would be expected to register an Average of 200-300 candidates.
Digitally literate persons would be able to operate computers/digital access devices (like tablets, smart phones, etc.), send and receive emails, browse internet, access Government Services, search for information, undertaking cashless transactions, etc. and hence use IT to actively participate in the process of nation building.
The implementation of the Scheme would be carried out under the overall supervision of Ministry of Electronics and IT in active collaboration with States/UTs through their designated State Implementing Agencies, District e-Governance Society (DeGS), etc.

State Government Services

Sourkaryan and E–Seva: Project of the government of Andhra Pradesh is now operational in the port city of Visakhapatnam, provides the facility for a citizen to pay property taxes online and also view details of plans and projects of the government and local bodies.
The Bhoomi Project of Karnataka state covers 6.7 million farmers and holds millions of records of land ownership. The project has earned the goodwill of many people and also international funding agencies.
The Gyandoot Project: is the first ever project in India for a rural information network in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh which has the highest percentage of tribes and dense forest. Every village has a computer centre or “soochnalayas” at prominent market places or major roads. People can easily log in and complain or request information on crops, forest fields, Water Resources, etc. of the district.

Training

Role of community information centres: The central and state governments of India, especially the Ministry of Information Technology, have taken a step known as rural electronic libraries. The project has been started in Sikkim and North Eastern states of India to provide IT facility in each and every block. Each CIC will have one server computer system and five client configuration computer systems linked in a local area network and connected to a V–SAT for Internet access.
Microsoft’s community technology skills programme, which was launched in 2004 in India and 2005 in Chennai, focuses on providing access to technology and EMPLOYMENT. Their new programme ‘Youth Spark’, which will focus on holistic education and developing Entrepreneurship skills
National Science Digital Library (NSDL): The National Science Digital Library Project was conceived by the government to provide cheaper access to science and technology books to students. NSDL is a facility planned to provide focused content to undergraduate and higher–level students.

Digital Mobile Library:

In order to bridge the digital divide in a larger way the government of India, in collaboration with the Centre for Advanced Computing (C–DAC) based in Pune.
It aims to bring about one million digital books to the doorsteps of common citizens. The Internet–enabled digital library will promote literacy.
It will make use of a mobile van with satellite Internet connections. The van will be fitted with printers, scanners, cutters and binding machines for providing books in bound form to end users.

Unnati Project

Unnati, is a project of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) which strives to bridge the digital divide in schools by giving the rural students with poor economic and social background an access to computer education
The project provides for supply of five computers for each school. The HPCL will draft the services of the National institute of technology (NIT) for imparting training to the students and even the teachers in computer operation.

Role of academic and research institutions

IIT Karagpur designed a project to “bridge the communication gap between the sightless and the sighted.” The project has enabled the blind to surf the Internet, read text in Indian languages and even take up normal office work. A Software IIT Webel has been developed to translate Braille into plain English.
Telemedicine system must be expanded and designed to be more user–friendly and economical. What is needed is to bring awareness among people about telemedicine and telehealth and their advantages.
The Azim Premji Foundation has been involved with universalization of elementary education by creating effective and scaleable models to improve the quality of learning in school.
Tata Council of Community Initiatives, are playing an important role in promoting adult education in the country. The council has extended several innovative computer–based literacy programs to improve India’s adult education by preparing multimedia presentations.

The unequal access to information and communication technologies has led to the digital divide though India has made encouraging efforts to bridge the gap by initiating a number of projects and programmes for rural and remote locations, a strong determination among people, good policy–makers and political support is also required to bridge the digital divide.
The country needs to improve the infrastructure of public libraries and link them with community information centres.

Bridging the disability divide through digital technologies

Over 1 billion people around the world have disabilities, and 80 percent of them live in developing countries.
Persons with disabilities face barriers to communicate, interact, access information, and participate in civic activities. Digital technologies are helping overcome some of these barriers.
Technology enables multiple means of communication—voice, text, and gestures—to access information and engage with others. Voice recognition, magnification, and text-to-speech functionality benefit persons with visual, cognitive, learning, and mobility disabilities.
Short message service (SMS), instant messaging, telephone relay, and video captions reduce communication barriers for persons with hearing and speech disabilities. Hands-free navigation and gesture-controlled interfaces assist persons with severe mobility impairments in using digital devices.
But the mere existence of technology is an insufficient condition to bridge the gaps in the socioeconomic inclusion of persons with disabilities.
A supportive ecosystem is needed to drive the implementation of accessible digital technologies.

Conclusion- Reaping digital dividends for everyone

Digital technologies are transforming the worlds of business, work, and service delivery. These advances are making the leading parts of the economy and society more productive—even as many still wait for the most basic benefi ts of the digital revolution.
To ensure that everyone will reap the dividends of the internet, focusing on access to technology is essential but far from suffi cient. Why? Because technology needs to be complemented by improvements in areas that determine whether fi rms, people, and governments can make effective use of new digital tools.
The analog foundation cannot be strengthened overnight. It requires overcoming some of the most protracted development challenges: how to create an environment for firms to thrive, how to build effective education and training systems, and how to make service providers more responsive to citizens. The stakes are high, because the digital revolution leaves behind countries that do not make the necessary reforms.
For those that do, technology investments will produce ample digital dividends, and these dividends will be widely shared among all stakeholders

The digital divide is the gap between people who have access to information technology and those who do not. It is a complex issue with many causes and effects.

Causes of digital divide

There are many factors that contribute to the digital divide. Some of the most common causes include:

Economic factors: People who are poor are less likely to have access to computers and the internet. This is because computers and internet access can be expensive, and people who are poor may not have the Money to afford them.
Educational factors: People who have less education are less likely to be familiar with computers and the internet. This is because computers and the internet are not typically taught in schools in low-income areas.
Geographic factors: People who live in rural areas are less likely to have access to computers and the internet than people who live in urban areas. This is because there are fewer internet service providers in rural areas, and the cost of internet access is often higher.
Social factors: People who are older, have disabilities, or speak a language other than English are less likely to use computers and the internet. This is because these groups may not have had the opportunity to learn how to use computers, or they may feel intimidated by technology.

Effects of digital divide

The digital divide has a number of negative effects on individuals and society as a whole. Some of the most common effects include:

Economic inequality: People who have access to computers and the internet are more likely to be able to find jobs, earn higher wages, and start their own businesses. This is because many jobs now require computer skills, and businesses are increasingly using the internet to communicate with customers and suppliers.
Educational inequality: Students who have access to computers and the internet are more likely to succeed in school. This is because computers can be used to access educational resources, collaborate with other students, and complete assignments.
Social exclusion: People who do not have access to computers and the internet are more likely to be socially isolated. This is because they may not be able to stay in touch with friends and family, participate in online communities, or access government services.
Political inequality: People who do not have access to computers and the internet are less likely to be involved in politics. This is because they may not be able to get information about candidates and issues, or vote online.

Strategies for preventing digital divide

There are a number of strategies that can be used to prevent the digital divide. Some of the most effective strategies include:

Increasing access to technology: One of the most important ways to prevent the digital divide is to increase access to technology. This can be done by providing computers and internet access in public places, such as libraries and schools.
Providing digital literacy training: Another important way to prevent the digital divide is to provide digital literacy training. This training can teach people how to use computers and the internet, and how to find and use information online.
Addressing the digital skills gap: The digital skills gap is the difference between the skills that people need to use technology and the skills that they actually have. This gap can be addressed by providing training in specific skills, such as web design or programming.
Promoting digital inclusion: Digital inclusion is the process of ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to use technology. This can be done by making technology more affordable, accessible, and user-friendly.

The digital divide is a complex issue, but it is one that can be solved. By working together, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the digital age.

What is the digital divide?

The digital divide is the gap between people who have access to information technology and those who do not. It can be caused by a number of factors, including income, education, and geography.

What are the causes of the digital divide?

The digital divide can be caused by a number of factors, including:

Income: People with lower incomes are less likely to have access to computers and the internet.
Education: People with lower levels of education are less likely to be familiar with computers and the internet.
Geography: People who live in rural areas are less likely to have access to high-speed internet.
Language: People who do not speak English as their first language may have difficulty accessing information online.

What are the effects of the digital divide?

The digital divide can have a number of negative effects, including:

Economic inequality: People who do not have access to technology are less likely to be able to find jobs that require computer skills.
Educational inequality: Students who do not have access to technology are less likely to succeed in school.
Social isolation: People who do not have access to technology may feel isolated from their friends and family.
Health problems: People who do not have access to technology may have difficulty accessing health information and services.

What can be done to prevent the digital divide?

There are a number of things that can be done to prevent the digital divide, including:

Providing affordable access to technology: One of the most important ways to prevent the digital divide is to make sure that everyone has access to affordable technology. This can be done by providing subsidies for low-income families and by making sure that public libraries and schools have computers and internet access.
Providing digital literacy training: Another important way to prevent the digital divide is to provide digital literacy training. This training can help people learn how to use computers and the internet effectively. It can be provided through schools, community centers, and libraries.
Creating content in multiple languages: It is important to create content in multiple languages so that people who do not speak English as their first language can access information online. This can be done by translating websites and providing multilingual customer service.
Addressing the needs of people with disabilities: It is important to address the needs of people with disabilities so that they can access technology effectively. This can be done by providing accessible technology and by training people on how to use it.

What are some examples of successful programs to prevent the digital divide?

There are a number of successful programs to prevent the digital divide, including:

The ConnectED program: The ConnectED program is a federal program that provides funding to schools to help them purchase computers and internet access.
The E-rate program: The E-rate program is a federal program that provides Discounts on telecommunications services to schools and libraries.
The Digital Inclusion Fund: The Digital Inclusion Fund is a state program that provides funding to community organizations to help them provide digital literacy training and access to technology.
The One Laptop per Child program: The One Laptop per Child program is a non-profit organization that provides laptops to children in developing countries.

What are the future trends in the digital divide?

The digital divide is likely to continue to be a problem in the future. However, there are a number of trends that may help to reduce the digital divide, including:

The decreasing cost of technology: The cost of technology is decreasing, which is making it more affordable for people to purchase computers and internet access.
The increasing availability of high-speed internet: The availability of high-speed internet is increasing, which is making it easier for people to access the internet.
The increasing use of mobile devices: The use of mobile devices is increasing, which is making it easier for people to access the internet on the go.
The increasing availability of digital literacy training: The availability of digital literacy training is increasing, which is helping people learn how to use technology effectively.

Here are some multiple choice questions about the topic of digital divide and its prevention:

What is the digital divide?
(A) The gap between people who have access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and those who do not.
(B) The gap between people who are able to use ICTs effectively and those who are not.
(C) The gap between people who have the skills and knowledge to use ICTs and those who do not.
(D) All of the above.
What are some of the causes of the digital divide?
(A) Lack of access to ICTs.
(B) Lack of skills and knowledge to use ICTs.
(C) Lack of motivation to use ICTs.
(D) All of the above.
What are some of the consequences of the digital divide?
(A) People who are not connected to the internet are less likely to be able to find jobs.
(B) People who are not connected to the internet are less likely to be able to participate in civic activities.
(C) People who are not connected to the internet are less likely to be able to access information and services.
(D) All of the above.
What are some of the solutions to the digital divide?
(A) Provide more access to ICTs.
(B) Provide training on how to use ICTs.
(C) Create incentives for people to use ICTs.
(D) All of the above.
What are some of the challenges to solving the digital divide?
(A) Cost.
(B) Lack of infrastructure.
(C) Lack of political will.
(D) All of the above.
What is the role of government in addressing the digital divide?
(A) Government can provide funding for ICT access and training.
(B) Government can create policies that promote the use of ICTs.
(C) Government can regulate the ICT Industry.
(D) All of the above.
What is the role of the private sector in addressing the digital divide?
(A) The private sector can provide ICT access and services.
(B) The private sector can develop ICT products and services that are affordable and accessible to all.
(C) The private sector can partner with government and other organizations to address the digital divide.
(D) All of the above.
What is the role of civil society in addressing the digital divide?
(A) Civil society can advocate for policies that promote the use of ICTs.
(B) Civil society can provide ICT access and training to underserved communities.
(C) Civil society can raise awareness about the digital divide and its consequences.
(D) All of the above.
What is the role of individuals in addressing the digital divide?
(A) Individuals can learn how to use ICTs.
(B) Individuals can use ICTs to connect with others and participate in civic activities.
(C) Individuals can advocate for policies that promote the use of ICTs.
(D) All of the above.
What is the future of the digital divide?
(A) The digital divide is likely to continue to exist, but it can be reduced through the efforts of government, the private sector, and civil society.
(B) The digital divide is likely to disappear as ICTs become more affordable and accessible.
(C) The digital divide is likely to widen as ICTs become more sophisticated and complex.
(D) It is impossible to predict the future of the digital divide.