A digital literacy program in the state of Uttar Pradesh is empowering women to create their own identities and increase their income. TARA WE ADD, an initiative by an organization called Development Alternatives, has covered over 800 women in Uttar Pradesh’s Lalitpur district.
The digital literacy program aims to empower women in about 16 villages in the district. A study on the impact of the training shows that digital literacy is linked to improved livelihood and income opportunities for women. According to the report published by The Hindu Business Line, 62 percent and 59 percent of the women surveyed have said that they use the smartphone and the internet ‘to increase and promote (my/my family’s) business’ and ‘to learn new ways of earning money’ respectively.
The report says these are significant results since India has one of the lowest women’s participation in the workforce.
Another important finding of the study is that it has changed the perspective of the women trained. Before the training, only 44 % said that digital literacy would help in learning about new ways to earn income, and after the training, the size of the group has risen to 64%.
The study also reveals a 16% rise in the average incomes of the group, who run petty businesses– independently or family-owned.
