Digital’s mission-critical role in uplifting India’s rural economy during the Covid pandemic
The Covid pandemic has been harsh on every country globally; over 122 million people in India lost their jobs in 2020. This included 91% small traders and labourers, 18.2% entrepreneurs, and 17.8% salaried persons. Rural India has not been spared from the impact of the Covid pandemic, farmers have not been able to sell their crops due to prolonged lockdown. Work under MGNREGA had also been discontinued during the peak employment period.
However, the Covid pandemic had unleashed the potential of digital in India and across the globe. While urban India got connected digitally in the last two years, with people adapting to the new normal of remote working; digital witnessed its deeper integration in rural India too.
On one hand, the work structure in urban and metro cities got integrated with audio/ video conferences; on the other hand, there has been a key shift in the community engagement model in rural India. Many social development organizations explored innovative ways of reaching out to communities using digital technology. The digital integration in rural India has also been bolstered due to the government’s digital India drive. Increased smartphone penetration, which stands at 53% (As per recent reports) and cost-effective internet helped rural India meet the lockdown challenges with a degree of confidence.