By Varun Patel | Volunteer
Under Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) IDEA Foundation has been regularly successful in its aim to teach young women, from all walks of life- the daily usage of computer and mobile technology. This Government of India’s scheme is targeted at educating those that generally cannot or have not enjoyed such access. Part of the larger Digital India vision; the goal is to aid such sections of society in order to ensure maximum participation in the developmental process of the democratic nation in face of advancing technology.
The Digital Literacy program is conducted for the betterment of underprivileged women under IDEA’s e-SAKSHAR (which means e-literate) programme. In today’s world, basic knowledge of operating a computer or mobile has become mandatory for simple day-to-day activities. Amrim, a 30-year-old housewife notes how she regularly learns and tries new recipes at home after learning how to search and stream instructional videos on Youtube; also reminiscing how her initial doubts and reservations on joining the course were swept aside as she was introduced to a new virtual world of endless possibilities.
Shubhangi, another beneficiary of this project recently appeared for her 10th grade state board examinations and points out how the online college admission process would be considerably easier for her now- after completing the NDLM program. She would be able to apply in any stream in any college across the city without having to rely on any external help- all through her mobile phone. The course teaches practical and valuable lessons like using a smartphone/computer, searching the web, operating essential programs like Microsoft Word, Gmail, WhatsApp, Paytm, Amazon and others that can be used on a daily and even professional basis.
The ultimate vision of the project is to ensure the presence of at least one digitally literate person in each household. In the swiftly advancing world today all activities from shopping, payment to food delivery are performed online. Digital literacy can be said to have evolved to digital citizenship where persons with the know-how and means to use the Internet have access to a variety of essential features and services which are not available for those that do not. Hence, it is the need of the hour to ensure such opportunities are made available to all sections of society, which falls in line with IDEA’s vision of providing equal opportunities to the underprivileged.
FRIENDS, PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROJECT TO ENSURE MORE AND MORE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND MARGINALIZED GIRLS BECOME e-SAKSHAR!
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