Introduction: India’s digital governance platforms, driven by the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity and Digital India mission, have significantly enhanced women’s access to entitlements and legal safeguards. However, challenges like digital literacy, connectivity, and social norms hinder full empowerment.
Improved Access to Entitlements for Women:
- Streamlined Financial Aid: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) ensures timely aid with reduced leakages.
- Example: Under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), over 3.3 crore women received cash transfers via Aadhaar-linked accounts.
- Targeted Nutritional Support: Real-time data and apps improve nutrition delivery.
- Example: The Poshan Tracker app supports Anganwadi workers in monitoring over 10.14 crore beneficiaries.
- Expanded Healthcare Access: Telemedicine bridges geographic barriers for women in remote areas.
- Example: The e-Sanjeevani platform has facilitated over 30 crore consultations, improving rural women’s access to specialists.
- Direct Market Linkages: Digital marketplaces empower women entrepreneurs.
- Example: The SARAS collection on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) enables women’s self-help groups to sell directly to government agencies.
Enhanced Access to Legal Safeguards for Women:
- Simplified Grievance Redressal: Online portals provide secure complaint mechanisms.
- Example: The SHe-Box portal allows women to file harassment complaints under the POSH Act, 2013, online.
- Integrated Emergency Response: Digital platforms coordinate rapid support.
- Example: Mission Shakti links nearly 750 One Stop Centres (OSCs) to provide legal and medical aid.
- Secured Property Rights: Digitized land records protect women’s ownership.
- Example: The SVAMITVA scheme uses drone mapping to issue legal property titles, securing women’s land rights.
- Accessible Legal Counsel: Video conferencing provides free legal advice.
- Example: The Tele-Law service offers rural women access to panel lawyers for pre-litigation advice.
- Facilitated Crime Reporting: Cybercrime portals enable safe complaint filing.
- Example: The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal provides a trusted channel for reporting online harassment.
Persistent Challenges and Gaps:
- Urban-Rural Digital Divide: Large gaps in internet access limit rural women’s benefits.
- Example: IAMAI 2023 reports 56% urban vs. 29% rural internet penetration.
- Low Digital Literacy: Limited technical skills restrict platform usage.
- Example: Only 26% of women have internet access compared to 42% of men (IAMAI 2023).
- High Cost of Access: Smartphones and data plans are barriers for low-income women.
- Patriarchal Norms: Cultural restrictions limit women’s device control.
- Example: The GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2023 highlights family disapproval as a key barrier in South Asia.
- Language and Usability Barriers: English-centric portals exclude non-English speakers.
- Example: Women from states like Odisha and Tamil Nadu face challenges with English interfaces.
- Data Privacy Concerns: Fear of data misuse discourages platform use.
- Example: The alleged 2023 CoWIN portal breach exposed personal data, raising privacy concerns.
- Poor Digital Infrastructure: Unreliable internet and electricity hinder access.
- Example: CAG reports highlight non-functional connectivity in many Gram Panchayats under BharatNet.
Conclusion:Digital governance platforms like SHe-Box and Mission Shakti have transformed women’s access to entitlements and legal safeguards, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Overcoming challenges like digital literacy, infrastructure gaps, and social barriers is essential for achieving truly inclusive digital empowerment for women.