Has PMGDISHA Enhanced the Digital Skills and Expanded the Freedoms of Rural Citizens? Exploration Through the Capability Approach

Abstract

This article examines the effectiveness of the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) in enhancing the digital skills of rural citizens and expanding their economic, social, and political freedoms by using survey-based capability index evaluation. While the pan-India survey with 24,141 PMGDISHA trainees highlights significant coverage of rural youth and progress in bridging the gender divide, it has limited reach among other rural segments, such as the working population and housewives. Although the findings reveal an enhancement of digital skills and expansion of various freedoms, the impact varied depending on the conversion factors, such as socio-economic and demographic characteristics, trainee motivation, state efforts in ensuring digital access and infrastructure, and the facilitation measures of CSCs to beneficiaries. The article argues that the programme was limited in scope, as many participants could not link the training to their day-to-day life. The article suggests customising the future phases of such training to local needs, to ensure that rural citizens derive the potential benefits.