Latest news with #VulnerableTribal
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Empowering women, tribal communities through digital access
The digital revolution is reshaping economies, businesses, and communities across the globe. Yet, millions in India—particularly women and tribal populations in rural and aspirational blocks—remain on the fringes of this growth story. While more than 55% of internet users in India are from rural areas, when it comes to daily internet usage, urban users surpass their rural counterparts. In many tribal and rural communities across India, digital exclusion goes beyond a lack of smart devices, creating a profound disconnect from essential services and opportunities. Representing some of India's most marginalised communities, the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are characterised by pre-agricultural economies, stagnant literacy rates, and minimal access to mainstream development opportunities. With a population of 44,71,005 individuals, these communities face fundamental barriers due to limited access to smartphones and digital infrastructure. Many remain unable to access even basic digital identity services and Aadhaar-enabled benefits, cutting them off from crucial financial aid, health care, and welfare mechanisms. As India's digital infrastructure evolves, this gap threatens to further widen existing inequities, reinforcing cycles of poverty and marginalisation. Bridging this gap is not just about providing access to technology but also about equipping individuals with the skills to use it meaningfully. Digital literacy enables remote work, entrepreneurship, and access to e-commerce among other benefits, helping overcome mobility barriers, particularly for women and marginalised communities. For tribal communities, it unlocks government schemes, financial services, and agricultural advancements, fostering self-reliance. These are the foundation for socio-economic progress, ensuring no one is left behind in India's digital growth story. As digital access expands, so does the potential for empowerment. A well-structured digital literacy initiative must focus on training people in navigating the internet, cybersecurity, digital payments, and e-governance for a holistic understanding of the digital world. It must also foster entrepreneurial readiness, equipping individuals with tools for online business management and e-commerce platforms, leading to economic independence. For those who wish to join the workforce, digital literacy programs must provide certifications that align with industry needs and improve employability in tech-enabled jobs. Recognising the challenges of imparting digital literacy to vulnerable communities like the PVTGs, the government of India launched the Aspirational Blocks Programme as a targeted intervention to bridge the digital divide at the grassroots level. Building on the successful digital literacy initiatives of the Aspirational Districts Programme, this block-level approach enables focused empowerment of India's most underserved areas, particularly those with significant tribal populations. The programme combines technology-enabled learning with physical infrastructure and community engagement to ensure digital resources and e-governance services reach the last mile. Equipping marginalised communities with foundational digital skills and providing access to essential e-governance services is essential to fostering inclusion and enabling self-reliance in some of the most remote and disadvantaged regions of our nation. For India to become Viksit Bharat by 2047, it is imperative that they are brought into the digital fold through a targeted, scalable approach to digital literacy that provides tailor-made solutions. The Tribal Development Report 2022 highlights a concerning reality—literacy among PVTGs stands at just 47.7%, significantly lower than the national average of 77.3%. This underscores both the urgency of digital inclusion and the challenges of its implementation. For leaders determined to bring in change--solving this requires a hyperlocal, culturally attuned approach. Training modules must be designed in vernacular languages, incorporating visual and audio aids to ensure accessibility. More importantly, digital ambassadors from within these communities can play a transformative role in driving adoption. However, without upgraded infrastructure, even the best-designed interventions will fall short. Establishing community tech centres equipped with devices, internet access, and mentorship programmes through industry collaborations can help PVTGs see tangible benefits of digital literacy. Scaling these efforts however demands a collaborative ecosystem where policymakers, industry leaders, and non-profits must work together, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven, mobile-first vernacular platforms for accessibility. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives should integrate digital skills, complementing government-led programs. To ensure measurable impact, implementing monitoring frameworks tracking employment rates, entrepreneurship growth, and digital adoption is critical. We must focus on technology-enabled, sustainable solutions that bridge this divide and unlock true empowerment. Access to digital platforms enables participation in government schemes, digital banking, and e-governance services, improving transparency and financial autonomy, and hence, strengthening governance and social inclusion measures. With digital tools, people in even the most remote areas can access online education, vocational training, telemedicine, and awareness programs that significantly improve their quality of life. The Union Budget this year reinforces the commitment to digital empowerment through targeted provisions for women and marginalised communities. The Rural Prosperity and Resilience Programme, coupled with enhanced rural connectivity initiatives, positions digital literacy as a cornerstone of socio-economic progress. This strategic focus on digital inclusion promises to transform technology access from a privilege to an enabler of equitable growth. This article is authored by Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Lights up: Jeelugulova tribals celebrate freedom from darkness
VISAKHAPATNAM: For the first time, the tribals of Jeelugulova, a remote PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) hamlet atop Samalamma Hill in Cheemalapadu panchayat of Ravikamatham mandal in Anakapalle district, have seen electric lights brighten their village. Marking the occasion with joy and emotion, the villagers celebrated the moment with traditional Dhimsa dance on Sunday night. The hilltop village, home to eight families and around 50 people, has long lived in darkness, relying on fire torches and kerosene lamps. Surrounded by dense forest and facing the constant threat of wild animals after nightfall, the villagers spent many years in fear and isolation. 'Even to charge a mobile phone, we had to walk nearly 7 kilometres to Bangaru Bandalu, the nearest village with a power supply. Night travel often came with the risk of snake bites and injuries,' the tribals recalled. Some years ago, a few solar panels were provided to the village by social workers, offering limited relief from darkness. However, villagers recall that these panels often became ineffective during heavy rains, as they were prone to flooding. The residents, belonging to the Kondh tribal community, primarily depend on cashew cultivation for their livelihood, while turmeric farming also supports their seasonal income. Over the years, Jeelugulova's residents repeatedly raised their concerns at Zilla Parishad meetings in the erstwhile united Visakhapatnam district, requesting basic infrastructure like electricity and roads. 'Recognise us as people, give us light,' they had appealed, often holding torches during protests. After repeated protests, their plea eventually drew the attention of the National Human Rights Commission and senior district officials. In 2022, the then District Collector of Anakapalle, Pattanshetti Ravi Subash, along with Narsipatnam RDO Ronanki Govinda Rao and other divisional officials, visited the village. Jeelugulova tribals thank EE & Collector Following the visit, the administration issued Aadhaar and ration cards and promised electricity, drinking water, and road connectivity. However, the promises took time to materialise. Now, under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) Scheme, Jeelugulova finally has access to electricity. The villagers expressed heartfelt gratitude to the executive engineer of the electricity department and the district collector for fulfilling a long-standing need. Residents Korra Balaraju and Korra Mahesh, along with K Govinda Rao, district committee member of the CPI(M), conveyed their thanks to the officials who helped bring light to their village.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Tribals step up beekeeping with monofloral honey production in ASR district of Andhra Pradesh
Tribals belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) from 30 hamlets in Paderu and Araku mandals of Alluri Sitharama Raju district have been receiving training in the production of monofloral honey—honey formed from nectar of a single plant species—through the four Science Technology and Innovation Hubs (STI Hubs), set up by GITAM Deemed-to-be University in 2023, with the support of the Science for Equity Empowerment and Development (SEED) wing of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The trainees mainly come from Thumpada, Modapalle, Minumuluru, Raigedda, Talarisingi, Yegumodaputtu, Padmanabhapuram, Pappuduvalasa, Yandapallivalasa, Chompi, Hattaguda, and Lotheru villages, said the officials. A beekeeper, Dasari Gopi of Araku, said, 'Till now, we used to take up honey production entirely according to traditional methods. Now, we are learning new and innovative methods. This is of great benefit to us.' The project has now reached the honey production stage and in the next stage, the promotion, branding and marketing of the honey will be taken up with the support of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Principal investigator and associate professor at GITAM Biotechnology Department, I. Sarat Babu told The Hindu 'The project aims to harness the valuable produce of nature through action-oriented and location-specific measures to achieve socio-economic development of the underprivileged sections of the society with appropriate interventions of science, technology and innovation.' For the monofloral honey production, about 100 acres were planted with flowering plants like niger (valisalu) and about 250 bee boxes were set up. The bees collect nectar within a radius of 5 km of the bee box. At least five to seven tonnes of honey is being collected seasonally through this project, said Mr. Babu 'Each farmer in this project is able to earn over ₹1 lakh per year and, at the same time, learn scientific and systematic beekeeping. This is our success as pioneers of this project. My team and I spend at least one or two days a week, usually on weekends and holidays to engage in this project,' said Mr. Babu.
