The New Rural Reality: Impact of Digitisation

Tapan is a middle aged resident of Bhogpur village in District Purba Medinipur, 75 kms from Kolkata, involved in his traditional family business of farming. For several years he had been visiting his nearest bank branch for withdrawing or depositing money traveling over fifteen kms, which would consume nearly half his working day; similarly, to make his electricity bill payment, he would need to go every month to the nearest collection centre which was again time consuming. However, things have changed rapidly in the recent past with a new Digitalized Common Service Kendra opening up in his neighbourhood where not only are his banking and bill payment needs getting conveniently fulfilled but he can also now get top-ups for his mobile & DTH, book rail tickets and get online motor insurance for his two wheeler – all digitally and literally at his doorstep!

This is the new rural reality!! Let's explore this further to see how Technology & Digitization is slowly but surely empowering and transforming rural India.

We are well aware that the Indian economy is predominantly rural with over two thirds of its population and workforce residing in rural areas. Rural India contributes a substantial part of the Total Net Value added in many sectors with an overall 46% contribution to our national income. With a population of 833 mn people (which incidentally is larger than rural China) residing in 640,867 villages, it is projected that by 2050 more than half of India's population will still be rural despite rising urbanization. Thus the growth and development of the rural economy is imperative for the inclusive development and overall growth of the country.