'Digital India' leaves many behind

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-07-01 19:00:10 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-07-01 19:29:38

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10 years on, triumphs of 'Digital India' touted by BJP but Congress says marginalized are still left out

In the ten years since its inception, the Modi government has hailed the Digital India campaign as a pioneering people's movement that revolutionized the country's approach to technology and entrepreneurship. However, the Congress party claims that the campaign's achievements are largely concentrated in urban areas, leaving marginalized communities further behind in the digital divide.

The BJP-led government certainly deserves credit for its efforts to improve digital connectivity and expand access to technology in India. Initiatives like the Smart Cities Project and the Rural Digital Hub scheme have the potential to transform the country's urban and rural landscapes. Yet, as Congress argues, these achievements often fail to consider the needs and challenges of those most vulnerable and marginalized.

The lack of inclusive policies and inadequate infrastructure reinforcement compound the digital divide, making it harder for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to benefit from the advances made possible by 'Digital India'.

Rather than addressing the overarching issues of unequal infrastructure and access,Critics argue that the BJP, in power since 2014, has used the campaign as a means to consolidate their voter base and disguise the lack of progress in bridging the digital gap between rural and urban India. This, they say, is exemplified by the ongoing changes to the country's telecommunications policies that further widen the digital divide and exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities.

As the BJP celebrates 10 years of 'Digital India', it's crucial to analyze who the campaign has reached and ultimately, who it has excluded. By understanding the gaps in its policies, India can work towards a truly comprehensive and inclusive digital revolution that leaves no one behind.

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