Widening the gap: Technology, inequalities, and digital inclusion

Oxfam India Inequality Report 2022 assesses the extent of the digital divide in India. It has analysed relevant data from the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) and the National Sample Survey (NSS) databases.        

Oxfam India's annual publication, The India Inequality Report, highlights the extent of the digital divide in India and its impact on essential services such as education, health, and financial inclusion. In education, online classes and the use of digital technology have resulted in a "digital divide" among different income and caste groups of students, with only 9% of enrolled students having access to a computer with the internet and 25% having access to the internet through any device. In health, lack of access to the internet means exclusion from vital health information and resources. In finance, the likelihood of digital payment by the wealthiest 60% is four times higher than the poorest 40%.

THE WORLD IS RAPIDLY UNDERGOING A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. INDIA TOO HAS BEEN CATCHING PACE.        

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the digital divide in India, as many children from disadvantaged or economically weaker groups have been unable to access online education due to a lack of internet and computer access. It is the gap in access to and use of information and communication technologies between individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels. It has led to higher dropout rates among children living in rural areas and has aggravated the gap between urban and rural regions of digitalization.

IN INDIA, 70 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION HAS POOR OR NO CONNECTIVITY TO DIGITAL SERVICES.        

Various factors have driven the digital disparity, including availability, affordability, quality of service, relevance, and further extends such as security, interconnectivity, digital literacy, social norms, and access to equipment. In addition to the global divide between industrialized and developing countries, it manifests within countries between various socio-economic groups and different kinds of users. The access gap, which focuses on the inequality between those who have access to technology and those who do not, has been a common perspective in the research.

The report provides an overview of the impact of the digital divide on education, health, and financial inclusion with empirical data and research studies. It also lists down a couple of case studies to ponder over. The digital gap has significantly impacted India's education, health, and financial inclusion.

CLOSE TO 40 PER CENT OF MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS IN INDIA STILL DO NOT HAVE SMARTPHONES.        

In education, the shift towards online classes and the emphasis on digital technology has disproportionately affected disadvantaged students who lack access to digital devices or internet connectivity. It has resulted in a digital divide among different income and caste groups, with students from advantaged socio-economic groups having better access to digital infrastructure. The lack of preparedness among teachers and consideration of other provisions, such as mid-day meals and textbooks during the pandemic, has also widened the digital divide in education.

In health, the digital gap has limited access to telemedicine and other online health services for disadvantaged communities, leading to unequal access to quality healthcare.

ONLY 31 PER CENT OF THE RURAL POPULATION USES THE INTERNET WHEREAS 67 PER CENT OF INDIA’S URBAN POPULATION USES THE INTERNET.        

It has hindered the adoption and use of digital financial services among underprivileged groups, resulting in a lack of access to financial products and services. Bridging the digital divide in these sectors requires addressing the factors contributing to digital inequality, including availability, affordability, quality of service, and relevance.

The report ends with a section on the way forward and recommendations. The digitalization process can worsen existing inequalities if it is unequal, only benefiting those with access to technology and the internet. To address the digital disparity, the government can improve the income of the poor, ensure internet availability, make internet connectivity affordable, conduct digital literacy camps, establish a grievance mechanism, and consider low- or no-tech solutions. These efforts can help bridge the digital divide and create a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable digital environment.