Background

Despite the growing digitalization across India’s education and employment sectors, there is a big gap in access to digital literacy amongst the people from underprivileged sections of society. Since many digital tools are being treated as prerequisites for many academic and employment opportunities, many people remain excluded from them. According to a study, just 12% of individuals aged 15 and above possess basic ICT skills  such as using word processors or spreadsheets. 

They not just face a limited exposure to basic digital tools, but they also lack the devices and things such as stable internet connections which are necessary to access those digital tools. Along with the underprivileged students, people with disabilities are also disproportionately affected by these disparities. It is surprising that only 36.61 % of persons with disabilities regularly use digital services  in India. The existing learning ecosystems do not ensure that their digital literacy needs are being met and most organisations remain underprepared to create accessible work environments or even put in the effort for an inclusive hiring system. This results in narrowing down their pathways to education and employment and makes them dependent on their families for subsistence. 

These gaps highlight the urgency for accessible digital skill development and larger systemic efforts to bridge the increasing gap between technological growth and the equitable participation of people across India in the economy.