Internet Saathi Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural India

Internet Saathi is a program that's been working tirelessly to bridge the digital divide in rural India. It was launched in 2015 by Google and Tata Trusts.

The program focused on empowering rural women to become digital literates and internet saathis, or companions. They were trained to teach their communities about the benefits of the internet and how to use it safely.

Google and Tata Trusts partnered with over 300 NGOs to implement the program. The NGOs played a crucial role in identifying and training the internet saathis.

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The Internet Saathi Program is a groundbreaking initiative that aims to bridge the online gender divide in India. Launched in 2015, it's a testament to the power of collaboration, as Tata Trusts and Google joined forces to make a difference.

The program focuses on rural areas, where women often lack access to the internet. A study revealed that until 2015, only 1 out of every 10 rural women had access to the internet. This is unacceptable, and the Internet Saathi Program is working to change that.

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Here's how it works: the program uses a 'train the trainer' model, where women are first taught how to use the internet and digital devices, and then they train others in their community. This approach has been incredibly effective, with over 81,500 Internet Saathis helping more than 28 million women learn about the internet across 289,000 villages.

The program has expanded to 20 Indian states, with Rajasthan as its pilot project. It's now been successfully implemented in states like Punjab, Odisha, Gujarat, and many others. The list of states covered under the Internet Saathi Program includes:

Internet Saathi has faced significant challenges in its growth, particularly when it comes to getting families to understand and support the work of Saathis. Many families, especially in rural areas, have been hesitant to let their daughters or wives cycle to neighboring villages to take on this leadership role.

The lack of literacy in some communities has also made it difficult for Saathis to roll out one-size-fits-all approaches to training their clients. However, technology has been helping to address this issue through voice searches on smartphones, which enable women to ask questions in their local language.

In rural India, high data costs and a lack of high-speed connectivity have made it challenging to implement the program. Additionally, as the program grows, Google is concerned that ensuring its effectiveness will become more difficult, particularly in terms of executing and managing the Saathis across thousands of villages.

In India, only 22 percent of adults have access to the Internet, a stark contrast to China's 65 percent and Brazil's 60 percent.

The numbers are even more dismal for Indian women, with a mere 17 percent online.

In rural India, women are particularly excluded from the Internet, making up only 1 in 10 Internet users.

The Internet is often seen as a man's domain, a tool primarily for work, which can make women feel it's not relevant to their daily lives.

Many Indian women are also illiterate, making it difficult for them to use the Internet.

Google's HWGO initiative aimed to change this by creating a website with relevant content in four major languages and a toll-free phone number for technical help.

The initial campaign reached over 1.5 million women in five states, with notable success in urban India.

However, reaching women in rural India proved to be a challenge, requiring a more innovative approach.

Despite the growing success of Internet Saathi, Google has faced two major hurdles in expanding the program. Families have been hesitant to let their women take on the leadership role of Saathi, preferring to keep them at home or nearby.

Low literacy levels in many locations have also made it hard for Saathis to roll out one-size-fits-all approaches to training their clients. Voice searches on smartphones have helped address this issue, enabling women to ask questions in their local language.

A lack of high-speed connectivity and high data costs throughout rural India remain significant challenges. Even with a free smartphone, the cost of running the program and using data is high.

As the program grows, managing the Saathis across thousands of villages, including remote areas, will become increasingly difficult. This will require careful planning and execution to ensure the program's effectiveness.

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The Internet Saathi program had a profound impact on the lives of the women involved. One in three targeted women gained access to a smartphone, triggering significant socioeconomic changes in rural communities.

Women in the program reported earning subsidiary income through new skills they learned online, with 40% achieving this goal. They also learned how to save money online, with 50% of women in the program benefiting from this knowledge.

Access to the internet became a regular occurrence for many women, with 40% checking online at least once a week six months after completing the program. This newfound access opened up a world of possibilities, from checking the weather forecast to accessing information on crops.

The Internet Saathi program also had a positive impact on the women's social status within their communities. As Ms Kumari noted, people began to respect her more after completing the program, taking her advice more seriously and offering help when needed.