Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan: Objectives, Registration

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan aims to digitally empower six crore people across rural India by training one member from every eligible household, covering roughly 40% of rural homes.​ Originally set to wrap up by March 31, 2019, the scheme equips people with practical skills, from using smartphones and browsing the Web to sending emails and handling digital payments, in order to join the digital world.​

It empowers them to operate a computer or other digital access devices such as smartphones, sending and receiving email, and browsing the internet. This skill set is crucial to access various services provided by the government or undertaking digital payments.

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan Overview

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan targeting the groups of SC/ST, minorities, BPL families, women, and differently-abled persons would enable active participation in nation-building through IT tools.​ Here is a quick overview of the scheme: 

PMGDISHA Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for PMGDISHA are specified so that only the targeted beneficiaries receive the training. PMGDISHA eligibility requirements include: 

• Beneficiary Category: Nominees from eligible rural households.
• Age Group: Persons ranging from 14 to 60 years of age.
• Educational Background: Non-digitally literate persons, usually those without formal education or prior exposure to digital devices, are given priority.
• Household Limit: Generally, one person per eligible rural household is allowed to apply online for PMGDISHA.
• Exclusions: Panchayats falling under urban agglomerations are excluded under this scheme. Only rural panchayats outside of the urban clusters are covered; thus, these represent those linked to a city or town.

PMGDISHA Registration Process

Individuals interested in the PMGDISHA registration process will have to approach an authorized PMGDISHA training center. The center assists with the enrollment process.

• The application procedure involves filling out an application form on PMGDISHA apply online either directly by the beneficiary or with assistance from the staff at the training center.
• CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, formed under the Companies Act 1956, spearheads identifying eligible beneficiaries in close collaboration with DeGS, Gram Panchayats, and Block Development Officers.​
• Once identified, the complete list of beneficiaries is displayed right on the official scheme portal for convenience and transparency.

PMGDISHA Training Centres

PMGDISHA training centers will be set up primarily at Common Service Centres at Gram Panchayat level in rural India, of which over 4.13 lakh have been approved till date.​

• In addition, such centers need at least 3-5 computers with licensed software and one trained faculty in order to deliver 20-hour courses effectively.
• Operated under CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, they work on developing practical digital skills among eligible rural beneficiaries.

Target Beneficiaries for PMGDISHA

The main target groups of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan would be the rural households, with preference for families where no one is digitally literate. The other targets of this scheme would encompass SC, ST, BPL, women, differently-abled, and other such marginal groups. Such a focus ensures inclusive growth.

Objectives of PMGDISHA

Several key objectives form the basis of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan.

• It primarily aims at giving digital literacy to 6 crore rural citizens all over the country. The training mainly deals with understanding different digital devices and their basic operations.
• It also aims at equipping beneficiaries with the use of the internet for communication, information access, and financial transactions.
• Allows individuals to make use of digital payment methods adeptly, hence contributing to a cashless economy.

PMGDISHA Status

PMGDISHA Status gives insights into the present application, training, or certification progress of a beneficiary enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan. Applicants can PMGDISHA status check for their approved or completed registration, training schedule, exam status, or certification from the official PMGDISHA portal.

• You need to check the Application Status section from the official PMGDISHA portal by entering your registration number or other required credentials.
• Check up-to-the-minute updates on beneficiary lists or training progress directly on the scheme's dashboard.
• Contact nearest CSC centers or VLE for help on how to verify the enrollment, certification, and payout status.

Benefits of PMGDISHA

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan was formed with the objective of empowering rural households with the key aspects of digital literacy. It helps citizens in accessing online services, improves digital awareness, and allows active participation in a digitally growing economy. Some of the key benefits of PMGDISHA include the following:

• Digital literacy boosts, hence allowing the rural people to practice online banking, shopping, education, and government services from home.
• Creates new job opportunities by training people to run small digital service businesses and e-commerce ventures.
• Facilitates financial inclusion through digital payment modes, saves time, and reduces dependence on cash transaction modes.
• Addresses the urban-rural gap by providing the much-needed digital skill support to women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups.
• Improves access to health information, telemedicine, online classes, and e-governance for better livelihood.
• Encourages digital transactions everywhere, leading to higher GDP growth and judicious use of government funds.

PMGDISHA Certification Process

Beneficiaries take an online examination at the end of the training module, which is provided by a certifying agency.

• Passing this examination awards an individual with a digital literacy certificate. It is an official proof of the person's digital capabilities.
• PMGDISHA certificate download can be done from the official portal by the beneficiaries. It can be used for future purposes and verification.
• The certificate is proof of their competency in using digital tools.