PMGDISHA (Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta)

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) is a flagship scheme of the Government of India, launched in 2017, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The scheme aims to make six crore rural households across the country digitally literate by providing digital education to at least one member of each household. (Let’s see Skill India Mission article)

PMGDISHA as a Central Gov Intiative

The PMGDISHA program aims to empower the rural population by providing basic digital literacy skills, such as using digital devices, accessing the internet, sending and receiving emails, making digital payments, and using government services online. The program also focuses on imparting skills to access and use various digital services offered by the government, such as e-health, e-banking, and e-commerce.

The scheme is implemented through Common Services Centres (CSCs), which are operated by Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs). The VLEs are trained and certified by training partners appointed by MeitY to deliver the digital literacy curriculum to the beneficiaries. The PMGDISHA program is a part of the Digital India initiative of the Government of India, which aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

Aim

The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) is an initiative by the Government of India that aims to make at least one member of every rural household digitally literate. The program intends to provide digital literacy to a total of six crore persons in rural areas across the country.

The objectives of the PMGDISHA program include:

• To empower the rural population with the necessary digital literacy skills to enable them to use digital technology and electronic devices.
• To enable the rural population to use digital technology for their day-to-day activities, including financial transactions, accessing government services, and using digital platforms for various services.
• To make the rural population aware of the benefits of digital technology and the opportunities it provides.
• To enhance digital literacy in the rural areas, which would contribute to the development of the country as a whole.

Overall, the PMGDISHA program aims to bridge the digital divide in rural India and empower the rural population to participate fully in the digital economy.

Need

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA) is a digital literacy program initiated by the Indian government to make at least one person per household digitally literate in rural areas. The main aim of this program is to empower the rural citizens by providing them the digital literacy, thereby bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

Digital literacy has become an essential skill in today’s world, as it opens up a wide range of opportunities for people. Digital literacy helps people to access and use technology, which in turn helps them in many aspects of life, such as education, employment, banking, and various government schemes.

In rural areas, many people still lack access to technology, and even those who have access, may not be proficient in using it. PMGDISHA aims to provide digital literacy to such people by training them in various digital skills, including basic computer operations, accessing the internet, using mobile devices, and digital financial services.

Overall, PMGDISHA is a crucial initiative to bridge the digital divide in India and empower rural citizens with digital literacy.

Features

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) is a digital literacy program launched by the Indian government to provide digital education and training to people in rural areas of the country. The key features of the program are:

1. Coverage: PMGDISHA aims to cover six crore (60 million) rural households across the country in the next few years.
2. Curriculum: The program offers training on the use of digital devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, and basic digital skills, such as sending emails, accessing the internet, using social media, and online banking.
3. Training Methodology: PMGDISHA adopts a participatory and interactive approach to training, which includes a combination of online and offline modes, including e-learning, videos, and games.
4. Trainers: The program aims to train and certify a pool of 25 lakh (2.5 million) rural youths as digital literacy trainers who will conduct the training in their respective villages.
5. Assessment and Certification: PMGDISHA provides a certification to successful candidates who have demonstrated digital literacy skills through an online assessment.
6. Collaboration: PMGDISHA is being implemented in collaboration with State Governments, Education Boards, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Telecom Service Providers, and other relevant stakeholders.

Overall, the program aims to empower rural citizens by equipping them with digital literacy skills, enabling them to participate in the digital economy and access government services and benefits.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) are as follows:

1. The candidate must be a resident of rural India.
2. The candidate should be between the age of 14 to 60 years.
3. The candidate should be literate, but not digitally literate i.e., the candidate should not have received any digital literacy training before.
4. The candidate should have access to a smartphone or a computer with internet connectivity.

It is important to note that preference is given to candidates who belong to households that do not have any digitally literate member. Additionally, women and people from marginalized communities are also given priority.

Application Procedure

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) is a scheme launched by the Government of India to make six crore rural households digitally literate. The application procedure for PMGDISHA is as follows:

1. Identification of Beneficiaries: The scheme aims to make six crore households in rural India digitally literate. The identification of beneficiaries is done by the respective State and UT Governments through a household survey.
2. Training Centers: The selected training centers will be responsible for providing digital literacy training to the identified beneficiaries. The training centers are selected by the implementing agency, which is the Common Service Centers (CSC) e-Governance Services India Limited.
3. Enrollment of Beneficiaries: Once the beneficiaries are identified, they can enroll for the training program by visiting their nearest CSC or the selected training centers.
4. Training: The selected beneficiaries will undergo digital literacy training for 20 hours, which will be spread over a period of 10 days. The training will cover various aspects of digital literacy, including the use of digital devices, digital financial services, and the use of the internet for education, healthcare, and other services.
5. Assessment and Certification: After the training is completed, an assessment will be conducted to evaluate the digital literacy skills of the beneficiaries. Those who pass the assessment will be awarded a digitally signed certificate, which will be recognized by the Government of India.
6. Monitoring: The implementation of the scheme will be monitored by the CSC e-Governance Services India Limited to ensure that the training is conducted effectively and the beneficiaries are provided with the necessary support.

Overall, the PMGDISHA application procedure involves the identification of beneficiaries, enrollment for training, and assessment and certification. The scheme aims to make rural households in India digitally literate, which will enable them to access various services and opportunities available in the digital world.

Benefits

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) is a scheme launched by the Government of India to promote digital literacy in rural areas of the country. Here are some of the benefits of PMGDISHA:

1. Empowerment of Rural Communities: PMGDISHA aims to empower the rural population of India by providing them with digital literacy skills, enabling them to access information and services digitally.
2. Digital Inclusion: The scheme is focused on promoting digital inclusion in rural areas, bridging the digital divide between urban and rural populations, and making digital services accessible to everyone.
3. Employment Opportunities: Digital literacy is a valuable skill in the modern workforce, and PMGDISHA can open up new job opportunities for those who complete the program.
4. Access to Government Services: PMGDISHA aims to make it easier for rural communities to access government services and schemes, such as Aadhaar, Digital Locker, and e-education.
5. Financial Inclusion: The scheme promotes financial inclusion by enabling people to use digital banking services, make digital payments, and use mobile wallets.

Overall, the PMGDISHA scheme can have a significant impact on the lives of rural people, empowering them with digital skills and knowledge that can lead to a better quality of life and increased economic opportunities.