'Able To Run My Business With Much More Ease': How This Unique Initiave Is Helping Small Traders Overcome Digital Illiteracy

The "Strategy for New India @75" paper from NITI Aayog states, among other things, that India has to close the digital divide by 2022–2023.

Shaik Faridha, Degala Varalakshmi, & Manati Krishnaveni.

Source : ABP

Shaik Faridha, 36, owns a grocery and tailoring store in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district's Thammina Patnam hamlet. But she ran into trouble a few years ago as digitalization swept the nation. She struggled to stay on top of business transactions made on digital platforms since she had no idea how to go about doing so, which had a significant negative influence on her company's income. But a brief course in digital literacy training put an end to all of her problems, and now she can manage her company without losing her clientele.

There has been a consistent and significant drive in recent years to increase internet access in rural areas and the hinterlands of the nation. The "Strategy for New India @75" paper from NITI Aayog states, among other things, that India has to close the digital divide by 2022–2023.

In this regard, it is argued that developing skills and talent is a crucial goal to guarantee that the developing Indian digital economy has access to the trained and talented labour that business needs. Since 2014, the Ministry has concentrated on promoting digital literacy among the populace nationwide, but particularly in rural regions, in order to promote the use of digital technology.

Adani Foundation's Saksham initiative, which draws inspiration from that, focuses on skill development activities to support nation building by bridging the demand and supply of skills in line with the government of India's Skill India Mission by providing a variety of courses, one of which is Digital Literacy.

“I am able to run my business with much more ease and in a much more successful manner all thanks to the Digital Literacy Program. From mobile recharging to booking tickets, I have branched out to these aspects as well which has created an additional income to my existing business. I am very thankful to Adani Skill Development Centre (ASDC), Krishnapatnam and Digital Literacy Program for changing the life of me and my family,” shares Faridha.

Another beneficiary from the Digital Literacy course is Degala Varalakshmi from Muthukur village in Nellore district. The Digital Literacy course aims to familiarise one with the basic knowledge of computers, its equipment, mobile Phone operations and mobile phone applications as well as skilling people with digitalization, online Transactions in a supportive online and classroom environment.

“After the course, I installed the digilocker application on my phone and added all my important documents. I also spread awareness about the digilocker and its benefits among my friends and family. I learned about internet banking, online bill payments, accessing mail, social media, etc. I have also been teaching kids,” she says.

Hailing from a fisherman dominated area of Muthukur village, Manati Krishnaveni didn’t have any scope to broaden her horizons and ride the digital train. But the limitations in her surroundings didn’t stop her from not exploring the digital way of life. She enrolled herself in the Digital Literacy program and after the successful completion of the course, she is no longer digitally challenged.

“Today I can operate a computer, I know how to transfer money from my bank account, pay the electricity and water bills online, access my mails and surf the internet,” Manati says.