National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) is a campaign that aims to digitally educate at least one member of every family in rural areas. From 2014 to 2016, two Schemes titled ‘National Digital Literacy Mission’ (NDLM) and ‘Digital Saksharta Abhiyan’ (DISHA) were implemented by the Government of India with a target to train 52.50 lakh candidates in digital literacy across the country.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology lanched the ‘Digital India’ programme in 2015 with the vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge-based economy by ensuring digital access, digital inclusion, digital empowerment and bridging the digital divide. To achieve these objectives, particularly in rural, tribal and remote areas, the Ministry of Education offers high quality educational programmes through DTH channels as well as web platforms under the aegis of PM e-Vidya.
In 2017, a scheme titled ‘Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)’ was approved by Union Cabinet to usher in digital literacy in rural India by covering 6 crore rural households (one person per household).
Despite all these, digital literacy is still inadequate among the rural and underprivileged sections in India, the ratio of girls, women and elderly people being even sadder. The digital education gap in urban and rural areas is far from being bridged. However, MNCs operating in India as well as Indian corporates are working to bridge this gap across the country through various CSR initiatives. The CSR Journal takes a look at the top CSR activities boosting digital literacy among the underprivileged in India.
Digital literacy initiative by Nasscom Foundation and DXC Technology
Aligned with the Government’s visionary initiative of Digital India, Nasscom foundation and DXC Technology collaborated to enhance digital literacy in aspirational districts and close the skill gap targeting India’s youth in tier 2 and 3 cities.
Nasscom Foundation’s ongoing collaboration with DXC Technology has empowered over 4,00,000 marginalized individuals with technology in 2023 thereby, accelerating digital adoption, narrowing the digital divide, and enhancing accessibility, as per an announcement made by the Foundation in March, 2024.
DXC Technology, also announced that through its collaboration with Nasscom foundation, the company has trained over 28,000 youths across India in the last couple of years and their efforts have led to creating employment opportunities for more than 1,000 young individuals offering them a significant step forward to be part of India’s growing digital economy.
The training focuses on both deep-tech courses including Full Stack, Python, Cyber Security, Machine learning, Data Analytics, IoT, Digital Forensics as well as vital contemporary skills aimed at increasing boosting employability, responding to the needs of the rapidly growing sector, and increasing workplace efficiency. The training also offers introductory courses for students aspiring to understand and explore their careers in emerging technologies.
The program has also trained to more than 3.8 lakh beneficiaries in digital literacy. Notably, more than half of these beneficiaries are women. The training has covered areas such as providing entrepreneurial and financial skills, enhancing communication and interpersonal abilities. Furthermore, these initiatives have increased awareness within communities about various government programs and services in areas related to healthcare, agriculture, financial assistance for students amongst others, as per an announcement.
Avaada Foundation to digitally empower youths in Varanasi
Avaada Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Avaada Group launched its Community Development Centre in Nagepur, Varanasi in February this year.
The Community Development Centre is offering a wide array of comprehensive programs aimed at empowering students through education, skill-building, and mentorship initiatives. Among its offerings, the Digital Learning Centre will provide a platform for students to enhance their technological proficiency with computer, coding, and programming sessions, while coaching sessions for mathematics, science, and English, targeting 9th to 12th grade students, will provide vital academic support.
In addition to academic programs, the centre boasts state-of-the-art computer facilities, with 25 computers installed to provide computer and coding training to children and youth. Registrations for computer training have already surpassed a hundred, indicating a strong demand for digital literacy initiatives in the community.
“Notably, the gender ratio at the centre reflects a commendable 60:40 balance, with girls actively participating and excelling in various programs—a testament to our commitment to gender inclusivity and empowerment,” as per an official statement by the Foundation.
BNP Paribas and Nasscom Foundation to digitally empower female students
In a move to bridge the digital skill gap among women, BNP Paribas announced its partnership with Nasscom Foundation in February this year. The purpose is to train over 300 engineering women graduates through an employment-linked training project called Skill Development for marginalised Young Women towards Employment.
Marking its first year since launch, this hybrid programme is designed for technical skilling of the next generation of women engineers in India from marginalised sections of society. The programme is currently working to empower women engineering graduates from tier two and tier three colleges in Bengaluru, Tumakur, Mumbai and Pune.
The hybrid programme trained students from select colleges on a range of technical skills. These include Python Developer and data analytics and soft skills including (verbal / non-verbal reasoning, numerical aptitude, logical reasoning, business etiquette, problem solving, time management, customer orientation and interview skills.
Digital Education initiative by Walplast Welfare Foundation
Walplast Welfare Foundation announced in February this year that it is collaborating with K.C. Mahindra Education Trust to support Project Nanhi Kali’s Digital Equaliser For Girls (DEFG) Program. This initiative aims to empower young girls across Maharashtra by providing essential resources and training in digital skills. Building on their commitment to championing gender equality, Walplast Welfare Foundation will support 750 girls from Standard IX to XII across Nashik, Wardha, and Nagpur districts for the programme.
The Foundation is currently supporting over 800 girls in primary and secondary schools in Palghar, Nasik, Varanasi, and Bharuch.
The DEFG Program addresses the digital gender gap prevalent in India, equipping participants with critical digital skills essential for academic success and future career opportunities. Through comprehensive modular training covering various aspects of digital literacy, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication, girls are prepared to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
L&T Finance Ltd’s Digital Sakhi programme
Leading Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) L&T Finance Ltd. is empowering communities through its ‘Digital Sakhi’ CSR programme. The aim of the programme is to create awareness on Digital and Financial Literacy amongst the rural population.
As per a recent announcement by L&T Finance Ltd., the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative has empowered over 42 lakh community members so far. The programme which was initiated in 2017 has expanded its geographical footprint in 7 states namely, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala with a cadre of 1,370 trained Digital Sakhis over the years.
In FY 2023-24, under the programme, LTF has empanelled 400 Sakhis in Uttar Pradesh (Gorakhpur), Bihar (Supaul), Tamil Nadu (Madurai), and West Bengal (Murshidabad). In FY24, Digital Sakhis have helped empower over 11 lakh rural communities by promoting digital financial inclusion, providing impetus to 2,400 women entrepreneurs, as per a statement by the company. They further claim that across existing and new programme locations of Digital Sakhis, there has been a 12 percent increase in the adoption of digital payments among the community members, promoting a cashless economy and enhancing financial inclusion.
Mankind Pharma’s ‘Digital Smart Class’ initiative
Leading pharmaceutical company Mankind Pharma is working to enhance the quality of education in remote areas through its ‘Digital Smart Class’ initiative. Under their CSR arm, this comprehensive programme has established 220 smart classrooms across government schools in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
The Digital Smart Class initiative is a strategic effort to bridge the digital divide in education and provide underprivileged students with access to modern learning resources. The smart classrooms are equipped with integrated teaching devices, the Kyan system, which can convert any surface to an interactive board and multimedia playing surface, enabling a more engaging and immersive learning experience.
The initiative spans across 170 schools in 23 clusters, benefiting thousands of students in remote areas. Mankind Pharma has collaborated closely with local authorities and educational institutions to ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of the smart classrooms.
Key highlights of the Digital Smart Class initiative:
– Establishment of 220 smart classrooms across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
– Provision of integrated teaching devices and multimedia content for interactive learning.
– Comprehensive teacher training programmes to ensure effective utilisation of the smart classroom technology.
– Three-year project management and maintenance support to ensure sustainability.
CSR of Coal India for digital literacy in Jharkhand
In an announcement made earlier this month, world’s single largest coal producer Coal India Limited is taking its commitment towards quality education a step further by commissioning smart classrooms in 70 Government schools. This is in continuation of a similar initiative launched for 11 districts of Jharkhand in January this year.
The project worth Rs. 2.42 crore will be executed by EdCIL (India) Limited, a PSU. The initiative is expected to improve the learning outcomes among students as well as reduce the digital divide that exists between students of government and private schools.
BridgeIT programme – CSR of TCS
BridgeIT is a unique initiative created to bridge the digital divide that places socially and economically underprivileged communities at a disadvantage. The programme creates digital entrepreneurs who use IT to help local citizens avail essential digital services in education, adult literacy, unemployment and social discrimination. It attempts to address prevailing social inequities in India by proactively reaching out to women, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) communities.
Launched in 2014, BridgeIT has a footprint across 30 districts in 10 states. The programme offers budding entrepreneurs the skills, mentoring, technology, tools and resources required to set up a Digital Service Centre from where they can provide services such as generating and updating documents (such as Aadhar cards, Pan cards, and voters ID), enrolling for different government schemes, filling in online forms and cash withdrawals/deposits from the bank to fellow villagers.
In FY 2023, the programme had 347 active digital entrepreneurs with 146 of these being women.
VAHDAM’s Digital Learning Centre in Darjeeling
VAHDAM India inaugurated 3 digital learning centres in Darjeeling in June 2023 under its flagship CSR initiative, TEACH Me where the company directs a minimum of 1% of its revenue towards the education of its children across the country.
VAHDAM India partnered with BYJUs amid COVID in October 2020 to provide top-quality digital learning to children in remote tea gardens absolutely free of cost owing to the lockdown and schools remaining shut. This ensured that children could access and continue with digital learning at par with the best in the country.
The first digital learning center was inaugurated at Miriam School, Darjeeling. The second learning centre was inaugurated at the Badamtam High School where BYJU smart TVs and android boxes were installed to support the digital infrastructure and learning. The third learning centre was inaugurated at the Risheehat High School.
CSR of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages for financial and digital literacy of women
On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2024, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages announced the successful completion of its multi-state women’s empowerment initiative to provide financial and digital literacy training to 25,000 women. This monumental achievement marks a significant leap forward in narrowing the gender divide in financial inclusion and digital adoption, resonating with HCCB’s pledge for women’s empowerment announced in August of last year.
The initiative was conducted in partnership with the Y4D foundation. Spanning across the diverse landscape of 12 Indian states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, and Odisha, the program adopted a dynamic classroom-based methodology. It was designed to cater to the varied needs, interests, and proficiency levels of women from different backgrounds, enabling them to harness the power of finance and technology.
The curriculum was designed to cover a broad spectrum of vital skills crucial for thriving in the new economy. From the fundamentals of banking and account setup to navigating the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), from savvy investment strategies to leveraging online banking, the program also spotlighted government initiatives aimed at supporting women such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Sam Riddhi Yojana, and Nari Shakti. The digital literacy component was equally comprehensive, encompassing Mobile Banking, Digital Market Linkage, and Cyber Security. Thus, paving the way for participants to secure a robust livelihood and contribute significantly to household economics.
CSR of Infosys in Manipur
The Education Department of Manipur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Infosys Ltd. in the presence of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh in November 2022. The MoU was signed for implementation of Infosys Springboard Platform across government schools in the state.
‘Infosys Springboard’ is a free online platform powered by Infosys Wingspan that democratises the fundamentals of these skills with modular learning that is focused on digital literacy, competency and proficiency. It is a flagship intervention which aims to empower people, communities, and society. Through this initiative, Infosys plans to empower over 10 million learners with digital and life skills by 2025. The reach will include students across India in the age group of 10-22 years as well as lifelong learners. The content hosted on this platform is aligned with New Education Policy 2020. It helps the learners get access to a variety of topics that also include professional and vocational skills.
MoU between DLF Foundation and Lotus Petal Foundation
Lotus Petal Foundation signed an MOU with DLF Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the DLF Group in April 2023, to implement Vidya Sahyog interactive E-Learning remedial classes in English & Maths and one on one counselling support to students and their parents under the DLF CARES Education Support Programme, a flagship initiative of DLF Foundation.
DLF Foundation’s flagship education programme ‘DLF CARES’ was established with the premise that every child has the right to quality education and the primary objective is to nurture and handhold them to realise their potential and become productive and responsible citizens of tomorrow.
Vi Foundation and Ericsson’s Robotic Lab in Pune
With the objective of building a future ready talent force from the school level onwards, Vi Foundation, the CSR arm of Vi, in partnership with Ericsson India set up a state-of-the-art Robotic Lab in Sayajinath Maharaj Vidyalaya and Jr. College, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune in January 2023.
This is the first among the ten labs to be set up by Vi Foundation in the six states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Gujarat.
At the event, Vi Foundation also inaugurated a library, and felicitated select students from its vocational training centre. Equipped with robotic kits, 3D printer, laptops and a projector, the Digital Lab is designed to assist students of standard 6th to 9th through their first experience of the world of programming and new technologies. It aims to improve the students’ education and employment prospects across Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by providing an exciting learning experience and developing skills such as teamwork, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking.
Walplast Welfare Foundation’s collaboration with K.C. Mahindra Education Trust
Walplast Welfare Foundation proudly announced its collaboration with K.C. Mahindra Education Trust in February 2024 to support Project Nanhi Kali’s Digital Equaliser For Girls (DEFG) Program. This initiative aims to empower young girls across Maharashtra by providing essential resources and training in digital skills. Building on their commitment to championing gender equality, Walplast Welfare Foundation will support 750 girls from Standard IX to XII across Nashik, Wardha, and Nagpur districts for the programme.
The DEFG Programme addresses the digital gender gap prevalent in India, equipping participants with critical digital skills essential for academic success and future career opportunities. Through comprehensive modular training covering various aspects of digital literacy, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication, girls are prepared to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Mirae Asset Foundation’s initiative for BMC schools in Mumbai
Mirae Asset Foundation (MAF), the CSR arm of Mirae Asset’s businesses in India under its Educational Infrastructure Support Program (MAF EISP) in collaboration with Extramarks Education Foundation, Noida, announced in January that it has installed seven new digital classrooms with smart interactive panels in four BMC schools in Mumbai’s Andheri and Vile Parle. This collaborative initiative, part of the Infrastructure Support Program of the Foundation is aimed to benefit more than 2000 students.
The seven new digital classrooms are equipped with LED-based Interactive flat panels. These seven smart interactive panels, with integrated Extramarks Educational Content are aligned with the New Education Policy (NEP) Guidelines 2020.
