KERALA – INDIA’S FIRST FULLY DIGITALLY LITERATE STATE

Current Context : Kerala has become the first fully digitally literate state in India, marking the successful completion of the first phase of the Digi Kerala Project.

ABOUT DIGI KERALA PROJECT

• Survey Coverage:
  • Covered 5 crore people from 83.46 lakh families.
  • Identified 88 lakh digitally illiterate persons.
  • Trained 87 lakh (99.98%), who cleared digital literacy evaluation.
• Inclusivity:
  • Training included all age groups, even senior citizens (e.g., 104-year-old M.A. Abdullah Moulavi Baqavi from Ernakulam participated).
  • Delivered through local bodies, reflecting Kerala’s decentralised governance
• Purpose: To bridge the digital divide and empower citizens with basic digital skills.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Governance: Enables citizens to access e-governance services (Ayushman Bharat, PM-Kisan, Jan Dhan, etc.) without intermediaries.
• Digital Democracy: Citizens can file grievances, RTI requests, and participate in online civic activities → promotes transparency and accountability.
• Financial Inclusion: Promotes use of digital transactions and benefits for marginalised groups and women.