Digital Empowerment And Equality In India

This thesis examines the newfound digital empowerment of disadvantaged youth in India. Currently, the digital divide prevents many of the poor in India from participating as equals within Indian society. Throughout India, several programs meant to foster economic development through digital literacy work to bridge the digital divide. Looking at the Pratham InfoTech Foundation as my prime example, I argue that these purely economic programs are helping to advance equality in India but this is being achieved through digital empowerment and not with economic development. The ability of the poor to now harness the power of technology, especially through the Internet and social media, means that the digital realm is no longer the exclusive domain of the urban elite. Insight into how this may impact Indian society may be gained from exploring the ways in which the urban elite use digital media today. As the poor become more adept at utilizing digital resources to suit their own needs, I conclude that this newfound digital equality will eventually translate into greater equality and participation within Indian public life