Indira Gandhi Smartphone Yojana: An initiative to bridge the digital divide

The digital revolution has transformed the entire world. It has transformed how we access information, communicate, and do business. However, many of the population, especially women in rural areas, are still deprived of access to this transformative technology. Recognizing this inequality, the Rajasthan government launched the Indira Gandhi Smartphone Yojana (IGS Yojana) in August 2023. This ambitious program aims to empower women and girls by providing them with smartphones and facilitating their digital inclusion.

Digital medium of women empowerment

The IGS Yojana targets a specific demographic group: women who are heads of their families under the Chiranjeevi Yojana, girl students studying in classes 9th to 12th in government schools, college and university students, widowed or destitute women receiving a pension, and women engaged in manual labor under MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme. By focusing on these groups, the program addresses a critical aspect of digital inequality – gender inequality. Often, women have limited access to technology compared to men, which hinders their access to information, educational resources, and economic opportunities.

Benefits and Features

The IGS scheme offers an attractive package to its beneficiaries. The program provides a free smartphone to each eligible woman or girl. This removes the financial barrier for many who may not otherwise be able to afford a smartphone. But the program goes beyond just hardware. To ensure meaningful digital participation, the IGS scheme also offers three years of free internet data with a monthly allowance of 5GB. This allows beneficiaries to explore the vast potential of the internet, from accessing educational resources and government services to connecting with loved ones and exploring entrepreneurial avenues. Additionally, beneficiaries receive an unlimited mobile SIM card, which further removes connectivity limitations. Depending on the stage of the program, in some cases, the government may also provide up to nine months of free mobile recharge.

Impact and Potential

The IGS scheme has the potential to have a significant impact on the lives of women and girls in Rajasthan. By equipping them to use smartphones and the internet, the program can do the following:

Bridging the digital divide: This initiative directly addresses the lack of access to technology faced by many women in the state. By providing them with smartphones, the program empowers them to actively participate in the digital age.

Promoting education: The internet provides access to a vast repository of educational resources. Students can use online tools and platforms to supplement their classroom learning, access scholarship, and career guidance resources, and explore online courses for further education