9 SEPTEMBER2020availability of smartphones and high-speed connectivity, India is already home to one of the world's largest and fastest-growing bases of digital consumers and is digitizing faster than many mature and emerging economies.Not just that, but this changing digital landscape is also offering tremendous scope for women's empowerment in the country. With the passage of time, a number of instances are popping up that shows how technology can transform rural women's lives while empowering them in all aspect and help them to achieve their dreams. The truth is that women in India have been held back for ages. With the digital revolution owning a device with access to the world beyond their village community is seen as a threat to the overarching patriarchal rule. However, we find, with greater access women all over rural India have started to reap the benefits of the technology revolution, as a range of services and initiatives are enabling women to increase their connectivity and learn how to utilize the internet. Armed with technology and the internet, women are able to develop their own ideas and act on them. This also calls for a greater effort to close the gender gap in digital literacy. Today, Indian women are not just competing hard with the world, while getting involved in all the sector like health, education, agriculture and others. They are moreover, leading in many parts of it. The scenario may not be the same for rural women, but one can neither say that they have less enthusiasm in them in any aspect, as well. They possess strong determination and dedication towards progressiveness. In order to empower their life, they are leveraging the best of Digital India initiative and digital advancement for the next big leap. But how exactly is this happening? Let's have a look at the different aspects, ways and programmes, in which Digital India is empowering rural women.Current Digital India initiative provides ample of opportunities for women empowerment. Some of the various fields in which women can actively participate are Broadband Highways, Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity, Public Internet Access Program, e-Governance, e-Kranti, Information for All, Electronics Manufacturing, IT for Jobs, and Early Harvest Programs.Digitalization is a positive move for Indian women, as now they are more liberated, strong, empowered and contributing to the development of the nation. Digital India emphasizes on the major aspects like sharing of knowledge, IT & Software Jobs, online business, and communication with networking.· With the digitalization of libraries and availability of many services now, women are able to rely on the resources which were not available to them earlier, especially being women of rural background with limited access to urban areas and facilities.· Information technology services are now shifting to Tier-II and Tier-II cities and providing ample opportunities. Rural women can leverage the opportunity for their and their family's development.· Many women drop their job after motherhood. This is not just the loss of their earnings, but also a great loss to a nation where skilled manpower is still a wide search by all. Online business and sale is the area which is helping women to stay on work without any loss.· Communication & networking offers freedom of expression to women. They can now express their thoughts and know their rights as well.DIGITAL INDIA INITIATIVES· W2E2 - Wireless Women for Entrepreneurship and Empowerment (W2E2) is a programme designed to create women's microlevel social enterprises based on DIGITALIZATION IS A POSITIVE MOVE FOR INDIAN WOMEN, AS NOW THEY ARE MORE LIBERATED, STRONG, EMPOWERED AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION
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