Beyond connectivity: Rural India's role in building a digitally ready workforce

The Hindu

a day ago

A recent report from the Ministry of Education highlights that 51% of Indian schools have functional computers, and 53% have internet access. While these statistics underscore the persistent digital divide in our education system, they also set the stage for a more hopeful narrative — one quietly unfolding in the most unexpected corners of the country.
In rural India's modest classrooms or via shared screens in households, young learners are showcasing a new kind of digital fluency. One that is not dependent solely on infrastructure or high-speed connectivity, but instead rooted in adaptability, resourcefulness, and desire to explore. These are, in fact, the foundational skills for India's future-ready workforce.
As India moves toward a digital-first economy, where an estimated 75% of future jobs will require some level of digital proficiency, as per the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs 2025 report, the urgency to bridge the digital readiness gap becomes increasingly clear.
Take the simple act of a child borrowing their parent's phone to listen to a voice note from a teacher. Or the scene of a small group huddled around a tablet, working through lessons together. Or older siblings teaching younger ones to navigate an educational app in their mother tongue. These everyday moments — often overlooked — reflect an early and instinctive digital mindset.
Here, learning does not flow in a single direction or medium. It shifts constantly — from textbooks to audio messages, from peer-led discussions to screen-based exploration. This blended approach is not a fallback; it is a preview of lifelong learning in a dynamic economy.
Digital literacy is no longer just about operating devices or knowing how to browse the internet or use an app. True digital literacy encompasses agency, confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving — traits that directly impact learning attainment as well as employability.
The role of public-private partnerships cannot be understated either. Across the country, we are seeing collaborative efforts to equip teachers with digital tools, integrate STEM modules into rural classrooms, and establish digital labs in resource-poor environments. These initiatives are slowly chipping away at the infrastructural challenges — but the real transformation lies in how children and communities are responding. What began as an access issue is becoming a story of empowerment.
India's demographic dividend — with nearly 65% of its population under the age of 35 — offers us an unparalleled opportunity. But it is only meaningful if this generation is equipped with the skills to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
Technology, which allows children to learn in the languages they speak at home, bridge comprehension gaps and foster a deeper sense of belonging in the learning journey. The rural digital learning experience offers more than just inspiration; it offers a scalable, replicable model where curiosity, not connectivity, is the true driver of growth.
To build a workforce that is not just employable but empowered, we need to pay close attention to what these children are already teaching us: that the future of digital literacy in India is being written in the homes, courtyards, and classrooms across the country. And if we're willing to listen, we may find ways to create more equitable opportunities to academically build on what is already happening on ground, so that children are not just learning for the future, but are actively building it.
(The author is CEO of Bharti Airtel Foundation)