Google India’s ‘Internet Saathi’ program which does aim to empower rural women on how to make use of the Internet has now indeed added two more states — Punjab and Odisha. Thus ‘Internet Saathi’ Programme Covers 2.6 Lakh Indian Villages in 20 states.
It has been launched as a pilot project in 2015 along with Tata Trusts; the ‘Internet Saathi’ program does focus on educating women on how to make use of the Internet, who then can impart such training to other women in their community as well as neighboring villages. Thus such educational programs will be accounted for as ‘Internet Saathi’ Programme Covers 2.6 Lakh Indian Villages
The effort is to bring about positive changes via the Internet within their communities and have already benefited over 2.6 crore fellow women.
Rural women are keen on earning the internet and have to meet their own needs as well as of the families, kids and their respective. Some have gone ahead and also have started their micro-business stitching, honeybee farming, and beauty parlors. Many are empowering their families and communities with new skills to enhance their livelihood.
Awareness is also being generated for issues such as child education, menstrual hygiene and more.
The focus needs to be on societal progress, it is also imperative that women in rural India are indeed provided with adequate opportunities as well as knowledge.
About 70 percent of Internet Saathi’s those women are a source of information in their village. People approach them for answers to help children with schoolwork, to learn new cooking recipes, searching jobs, or to run a business.
Nine in 10 women beneficiaries do believe in a woman’s right to express herself and earn a living for her family while seven in 10 women who do attend the training with the Saathi’s do help in improving children’s education.
Saathi’s are sort of business set-ups. They do ensure economic growth and generate much income. From this point as well ‘Internet Saathi’ Programme Covers 2.6 Lakh Indian Villages.
Digital literacy initiative is indeed aimed at empowering women in rural India. Efforts are on to promote Saathi programs in villages.
The program has helped bridge the digital gender divide in rural India.
Internet Saathi program brings forth the right opportunities for women.
Women are very passionate about the internet and are keen to learn. It helps them to meet their needs and also that of their families, kids, and their communities. Many women have started their micro-business stitching, honeybee farming, and beauty parlor, many others are no doubt empowering their respective families as well as communities with new skills to enhance their livelihood. Efforts are on to promote girl-child education, menstrual hygiene as well as much more.
Fully trained Internet Saathi’s are making use of the Internet to drive positive change in their communities and have benefited a lot of women.
For inclusive growth as well as societal progress, it is also imperative that women in rural India are rather provided with adequate opportunities as well as knowledge. The Trusts have increasingly been making use of technology in all its programs across 29 states in India.
