Digital Inclusion of Farmers and Rural Hinterland: The Case of Digital India

摘要

Success in the increasingly digitized social and economic realms requires a comprehensive approach to fostering inclusion. India with world's largest digitally excluded population, undertook a major technology-based initiative - Digital India, to ensure digital inclusion of all. This qualitative study analyzes the various digital initiatives that are focused on rural sectors especially the farmers and agriculturists from the perspective of the Digital inclusion framework. It also investigates the current implementation status of these e-services and applications and the challenges involved along with some suggestive solutions. The results reflect that these initiatives are achieving digital inclusion to some extent but it still needs much more impetus and progress. This unique research presents the holistic view of these rural initiatives which can prove to be useful for other researchers and the policymakers in understanding and chalking out an action plan for enhancing rural digital inclusion through e-services and mobile applications globally.