Using a Tab instead of a Copy-India is Changing
India is a developing country and thus during the course of this development, many new technologies are introduced which are contributing to our country’s development. If these days copies are replaced by tabs then surely there is a strong and convincing reason behind that as every change happens for a reason, we always opt for the best. The words “Digital Literacy” is very common these days especially during this Corona pandemic as now we are wholly dependent on technology, everything is online, whether it be teaching, shopping, working, cooking everything. Digital teaching is the most aiding thing during this pandemic as teachers are able to teach their students sitting in different parts of the country but are all the students able to handle these new technologies and are teachers able to use these easily??? That is, are they digitally Literate??
“The ability of individuals and communities to understand and use digital technologies for meaningful actions within life situations” has been technically defined as digital literacy. But in layman’s language, a digitally literate person is able to easily use different new technologies that are they can comfortably use smartphones, laptops, etc. Today's generation finds it funny that their parents and grandparents are not able to use these new technologies there are many old people who still don’t know how to add a contact number, how to call someone on a smartphone but it’s not their fault as they belong to a generation where only some rich people were having these smartphones and only a few selected people knew how to use it. but these days even the small children who are mere 5–6 years old, know how to call, how to use different social media in a smartphone
Following is the criteria for a digitally Literate person
· Understanding the basic functioning of digital devices and using them for accessing, creating, managing and sharing information
· Using the Internet
· Using technology to communicate effectively
· Appreciating the digital technology we use in everyday life, in our social lives and at work
· Carrying out cashless transactions using different software, online citizen-centric services, etc.
As per a report from the Digital Empowerment Foundation in 2018, around 90% of India’s population is digitally illiterate. However, until October 2018, around 2 crore individuals have been covered, which is just 1.67% of India’s population. Thus the need of the hour is to increase digital literacy in our country, yes the change is hard to accept initially but later on, we all will feel proud of ourselves for this change, there are many benefits of being a digitally Literate person such as:
1. As more services go online, digitally versatile workers have an increasing advantage in many sectors ranging from information technology (IT) to the service industry. Digital skills are applied to nearly every profession therefore, helps an individual to apply for a number of job profiles.
2. Digitally literate students improve the quality of their schoolwork by easily accessing online resources including lecture videos, library databases, and teacher-student e-mail correspondence.
3. Digitally literate people save time and money by paying bills, applying for jobs, doing their taxes and banking online.
4. Digitally literate computer owners are far more likely to incorporate the Internet into their daily routine and realize the countless benefits of broadband.
5. When an entire family is digitally literate and connected to the internet, it helps to keep the people of the family to stay in touch.
But, we very well know that urban people are more digitally Literate than rural people the reason for this is not, that rural people are dumb and they can’t handle technology but the truth is they are not financially able to buy smartphones and laptops and also learning these new technologies require money when no one around them know how to use it, would they buy food for them or a smartphone but the government knows it is more important that our rural people become Digitally Literate that’s why our respected Prime minister said:
“Digital India is our dream for the nation. when I say ‘digital India’ It is not meant for the rich but for those who are poor”
There are many programs and laws made by the government of India for increasing our digital Literacy rate such as:
· In the years 2014 to 2016, two government Schemes entitled ‘National Digital Literacy Mission’ (NDLM) and ‘Digital Saksharta Abhiyan’ (DISHA) were implemented with a target of training 52.50 lakh candidates in digital literacy across the country including the rural parts of our country.
· In the month of February 2017, the Government of India approved “Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)” to usher in digital literacy in rural India by covering 6 crore rural households (one person per household).
We know the impact of digital Literacy and we also know that there are many in our country who are digitally illiterate, it is not only the government’s duty to take care of this issue but as a responsible citizen of our country. It is a duty also to do everything that empowers our country’s development. If you are digitally Literate then why not you teach other people how to use technology, if we all Indians will come together and will be enthusiastic for our country’s development and growth no one can stop us!
-By Ishita Sukhija, SDF Batch 11, Miranda House, Delhi, India
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