In an increasingly digitised world, where technology shapes our daily interactions and access to information is a keystroke away, it is imperative to consider the far-reaching implications of digital inequality. In India, only 57.1 per cent of the male population and 33.3 per cent of the female population had ever used the internet, indicating a gender gap in internet usage.
To shed light on digital inclusion and empowerment in India, with a particular focus on themes such as digital skills, labour markets, financial inclusion, and marginalised communities, PDAG organised a two-day symposium “Digital Inclusion and Empowerment in India” in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) as part of the India chapter of DiSTO (From Digital Skills to Tangible Outcomes). The goal was also to establish a platform for informed dialogue and solutions to bridge the digital divide in India and empower marginalised communities while highlighting the existing challenges and barriers that need to be addressed effectively within the Indian context.
DiSTO focuses on developing and enhancing measures and models that assess people’s digital skills, digital engagement, and outcomes of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) use. By mapping these factors onto societal inequalities, it aims to drive a positive change.