India Inequality Report 2022

09 Dec 2022 India Inequality Report 2022

News: According to the NGO Oxfam India’s “India Inequality Report 2022: Digital Divide,” rising disparities in India based on caste, religion, gender, class, and geography are worryingly being mirrored in the digital sphere.

Key Highlights of the report:

• Gender Divide:

• • • Only one-third of internet users in India are women.
    • In 2021, 61% of men and just 31% of women held mobile phones.

• Rural-Urban Divide:

• • • Only 31% of people in rural areas utilise the Internet, compared to 67% of people in metropolitan areas.
    • Maharashtra and Bihar have the greatest and lowest rates of internet usage, respectively.

• Religion and Caste wise Divide:

• • The chance of a Sikh owning a computer is higher than that of a Christian, a Hindu, and then a Muslim.
  • ST households have the lowest propensity to use formal financial services, followed by SC families and OBC households.

Determinants of Digital Divide:

• Low literacy and income levels.
• Geographical restrictions.
• Lack of motivation to use technology.
• Lack of physical access to technology.
• Digital illiteracy.

Tackling Digital Divide:

• Create awareness about digital platforms.
• Enhance digital skills among the population.
• Investment to bridge the digital divide – create better infrastructure.

Indian Government Initiatives to tackle digital divide:

• Jan-Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity
• Bharat Net
• Digital Payments
• Optical Fibre Network (NOFN)

Priya