Overview of PMGDISHA Making one person in every family digitally literate is one of the integral components of the Prime Minister's vision of "Digital India". Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan is the scheme to make six crore persons in rural areas, across States/UTs, digitally literate, reaching to around 40% of rural households by covering one member from every eligible household by 31st March, 2019. The Scheme would empower the citizens in rural areas by training them to operate computer or digital access devices (like tablets, smart phones etc.), send and receive e-mails, browse Internet, access Government services, search for information, undertake digital payment etc. and hence enable them to use the Information Technology and related applications especially Digital Payments to actively participate in the process of nation building. The Scheme aims to bridge the digital divide, specifically targeting the rural population including the marginalised sections of society like Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST), Minorities, Below Poverty Line (BPL), women and differently-abled persons and minorities. Appreciation of Digital Literacy To make a person digitally literate, so that he/she can operate digital devices (like Tablets, Smart phones etc) send and receive emails & browse Internet for information and undertake digital payment etc. Eligibility Criteria Nominated digitally illiterate person from every eligible rural household. Age : 14 to 60 years Course Duration 20 Hours (Minimum 10 Days and Maximum 30 Days) Medium of Instruction Official Languages of India Fee NIL Place of Learning The eligible households can nominate one person from their family. The selected person to get themselves enrolled under this programme in a nearest Training Centre/ Common Service Centre (CSC). Evaluation Independent external evaluation will be conducted by a National level certifying agency like NIELIT, NIOS, IGNOU, HKCL, ICTACT, NIESBUD etc.

Training Process

Learning Outcomes / Competency Standards:

1. Understand the basics (terminology, navigation and functionality) of digital devices
2. Use digital devices for accessing, creating, managing and sharing information
3. Use the Internet to browse in an effective and responsible manner Use technology to communicate effectively
4. Appreciate the role of digital technology in everyday life, in social life and at work
5. Carry out cashless transactions using digital financial tools (USSD/ UPI/ eWallet/ AEPS/ Card/ PoS)
6. Use Digital Locker
7. Use online citizen centric services

The content generation / collation / management / aggregation - creation of content bank etc would be carried by CSC-SPV in consultation with various stakeholders as per the following:

1. The content developed for the purpose of digital literacy training would be made available in 22 scheduled languages of India apart from English. A mobile 'app' would be made available in 22 scheduled languages so that training content can be downloaded and re-used as and when needed.
2. For persons who cannot read and write, audio/visual/touch etc. based content would be developed. For those who can read and write, textual, structured, audio, video, and applications based content would be made available. Efforts would be made to design target beneficiaries specific contents with the use of local/localized resources.
3. Top citizen centric schemes as indicated below are included as part of curriculum:
   • G2C Services- Caste certificate, Domicile certificate, Income Certificate
   • UIDAI Services
   • Banking Services
   • IRCTC- Railway reservation
   • Insurance
   • Telephone/data card Recharge
   • Election ID printing
   • Electricity- bill payment
   • Pan card
   • Passport
4. As the thrust of the government is on promoting cashless transactions through mobile phones, the course content would also have emphasis on digital wallets, mobile banking, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS), PoS etc.
5. Appropriate feedback from beneficiaries and trainers for content enhancement would be taken to modify the content as per the needs of beneficiaries.
6. Emphasis would be given on use/operating of digital access device(computers, tablets, etc.) for navigating through various applications such as, opening internet browser, browse for information, search for information, listen to and watch audio and video, etc.
7. Other digital literacy courses developed by various agencies in this field can also be considered for imparting digital literacy training.
8. A Technical Committee setup by the CSC-SPV comprising of members drawn from NIELIT, IGNOU, NIOS, UNESCO, DEF, IT for Change, IIMC, INTEL, NASSCOM, NIIT, PMGDISHA partners, etc would ratify the contents. A Multilingual centralized pool of content relevant especially to rural masses would be created by CSC-SPV.

Broad Content outline:

Module Name
Introduction to Digital Devices
Operating Digital Devices
Introduction to the Internet
Communications using the Internet
Applications of Internet (include citizen-centric services; Use of digital financial tools for undertaking cashless transactions)
Total Duration : 20 Hrs