Digital Literacy and Women Empowerment A

IRJMSH Vol 12 Issue 4 [Year 2021] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print)
Digital Literacy and Women Empowerment: A case study of Delhi/Urban

Slums
Dr Sunita Mangla
Associate Professor
Department of Political Science
Kalindi College, University of Delhi
sunitamangla@gmail.com
Abstract
If there is ever to be a golden era in India’s digital landscape, it is now. With over 299
million mobile users in India, it has become the second largest smartphone market in the world
after China. Leaving behind technological giants like the United States, in 2017 India also
became the second largest market of Internet users with almost 462.12 million Indian
populations using the internet, of which 442.7 million were mobile internet users1. The rural
Indian landscape has also witnessed a phenomenal growth with an increasing internet and
smartphone penetration. Ironically, this technological penetration seems to have been skewed
towards the male population leaving the Indian female population far behind in digital
progress.. According to a study released by LIRNE Asia published in a leading English daily,
India has the highest gender gap in mobile phone ownership that merely surpasses countries like
Bangladesh, Rwanda and Pakistan. As per the study, only 43% of women in India use mobile
phones as opposed to 80% of the male population. This gender gap accentuates in rural areas by
52% compared to the 34% in urban areas. This digital gender gap could further marginalize the
already disempowered women belonging to the weaker sections of the society. But we can say
the revolution in information technology appears to have played very important and phenomenal
role in effective implementation of various schemes for women empowerment and emancipation
in India
Key words: Women empowerment, Gender gap, rural India, gender gap, smartphone
Introduction:
“It is impossible to think about the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is
improved. It is impossible for a bird to fly on only one wing”
Swami Vivekananda
In the last two decades, smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives.
Besides providing us the basic facility of instant long-distance mobile communication, they have
entertained us, informed us and kept us glued to their small screens. From being our companions
in a busy metro compartment to putting us to sleep in the wee hours, these smart phone devices
have captured every aspect of human life. As much as they have entertained us through music,
films and videos, their usage as knowledge sharing platforms is also undeniable. Numerous
mobile phone applications help students prepare their educational projects, men and women
International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 163
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track their health, process online transactions, engage in online businesses and book flight tickets
and cabs. Smartphones have played a particularly influential role in empowering women by not
only providing them access to communication technologies but also introducing them to the
world of the internet and social media. Interestingly, while men use social media to chat, a high
percentage of women use social media for marketing and educational content. While
economically and educationally advanced women are using smartphones on a daily basis,
women from the weaker sections of the society are still unable to reap the benefits of this fast-
growing technological revolution.
This research paper is based on the case study, which addressed the issue of the existing
gendered digital divide in India and aimed to propagate digital literacy among women living in
the slum areas of around Delhi NCR, particularly Shakti Nagar slums, Anna Nagar slums and JJ
Colony Shakurpur slums. This research educated and made women residing these slum areas
aware about the advantages of the smartphone and various mobile phone applications that these
women can put to use in their daily lives and this will help empowering them.
Objective of the study
The study aims to examine the impact of information technology in improving the status of
women and to propagate awareness about the basic use of smartphones amongst women in the
slum areas around Delhi NCR, particularly, Shakti Nagar slums, Anna Nagar slums and JJ
Colony Shakurpur slums. It will also help to inform and educate the women about important
mobile phone applications that can help track their menstrual health and hygiene , various
government-led (also other) women safety applications like the Delhi government’s Himmat
Plus app, social networking sites like YouTube, Twitter etc. and enlighten them about the
advantages. This paper will also make women aware about the entrepreneurial usage of mobile
phone applications to help them start small-scale online business ventures. Women living
in slums will also able to produce online content in the form of video clips through which they
can raise their issues and share them with government authorities on social media sites.
Research Methodology:
For the purpose of this research, a combined approach of focus group, participant observation
and survey/questionnaire method were conducted among 144 women with different age groups.
Questionnaire was also designed to be answered. After the responses of the respondents,
meaningful inferences have been drawn using simple statistical techniques. To begin with, the
research focused on women who had attained basic digital literacy required to operate a
smartphone. Total of 144 women (50 form Anannagar slum, 45 from J.J. Colony Shakurpur slum
and 49 from Shakti Nagar slum)were selected who possessed a smartphone that either belonged
to them or to a family member. Women from all age groups were a part of the study. A survey in
the initial phase helped determine whether they possessed smart phones, the level of digital
literacy, mobile recharge expenses, internet access, social media usage, awareness regarding
smartphone usage in the area of women safety, entrepreneurship and menstrual hygiene, and
their expectations from this research.
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Review of literature
The findings made by some of the authors and researchers who have conducted their study in
similar area are summarized below:
Avani, Maniar and Jasmine, Gill (2014) This study was deals with how Can mobile phones
develop womens literacy and strengthen their capability to choose and benefit from wider
educational, social and decent work opportunities that can improve their lives ? The present
study was undertaken to study the usage of mobile phones amongst rural women of Vadodara
distrtict.120 rural women from 4 selected villages of Vadodara district were sample of the A
structured questionnaire was prepared in English language and then it was translated in Guajarati
language to collect the data. Majority of the respondents expressed desire to participate in
training programme Women faced problem to less extent while using mobile phone. Further,
most women now searching for jobs by using their smart phones and internet facility and they
are earning money.
Arivanandan (2013) The present study was undertaken to study the usage of mobile phones
amongst rural women of Trichirappalli District of Tamil Nadu. the author has selected 60
women, aged between 15 and 30 years for his empirical research.. Majority of the respondents
expressed their willingness to participate in training programme Women faced problem to less
extent while using smart mobile phone. Authors concluded in their study about the the socio-
economic inclusions of rural women through mobile phone and internet in rural areas
Stark,Laura (2020), The present study produced a significant body of research on what
"gender" really means for mobile phone use. Author discussed that few years ago gender and
mobile communication for development were barely mentioned in the same context but now
mobile technology is being used by women not only for communication but also for their safety
in times of difficulty.
Bisht, Bhawna (2018),The development, distribution and usage of smart phones has had a
tremendously successful run across the world. Phone act as a media connector with current
updates in day to day and as an e-learning device to become literate. Besides this, the authors
have recommended that Information technology can also be used for empowerment of women
Research Questionnaire (Pre-workshop) - Few of the questions from the survey that was
held in the initial phase are listed below:
i. Do you know how to use a smartphone?
ii. What all purposes do you use your phone for?
iii. Who pays for your phone recharge in the family?
iv. Have you ever accessed the internet via your smartphone?
v. Do you have a social media account?
vi. Are you aware that smartphones nowadays can be used for women’s safety via
various application launched by the government and Delhi police?
vii. Given a chance would you like to learn some basic skills like making videos,
editing and posting them on social networking sites?
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viii. If there is a workshop organized in your area regarding the same would you
like to be a part of it? If no, why?
Through the course of one year the research team did field visits, gave individual sessions
and conducted a workshop on the usage of smart phones to these women. The team observed the
women participants and noted the changes and challenges occurring in their usage of the
smartphone. In order to gauge, the implementation of the project among women, researchers
closely interacted with the women to understand how their daily lives had changed after being
introduced to the digital world. For instance, the research team observed the kind of mobile
applications that the women had downloaded, the process followed in downloading, practical
usage and benefits of such apps. On the completion of the project another survey was conducted
to analyse the changes that had come through in the last one year amongst the women in terms of
their knowledge related to smartphone usage and internet access. The survey tried to find out
whether the women had benefitted from the workshop, had they learnt to access the internet, use
social media platforms, click pictures, make videos and upload them on social networking sites
etc. The survey also explored the major ways in which the women felt empowered after using
the mobile phone during the course of the project.
Research Questionnaire (Post field visit survey) – The final survey had few of the questions
listed below:
i. Did you participate in the workshop organized towards awareness regarding Digital
Literacy and Women Empowerment?
ii. Have you now learnt how to use a smartphone, if you did not know it earlier?
iii. Do you now have a social media account, if you did not have one previously?
iv. Has the workshop helped you in learning how to click photographs and record videos on
your phone?
v. Have you also uploaded any of your videos/photos on social media platforms?
vi. Do you think social media platforms like twitter can be a voice for the voiceless,
especially women?
vii. Do you think learning about smartphone usage has empowered you in any way? If yes,
how?
viii. Do you think social media platforms like twitter can be a voice for the voiceless,
especially women?
Alongside, various reports, circulars, manuals, newsletters, bulletins and factsheets as well as
latest published articles were referred to supplement the information. Various variables were
identified using brainstorming technique going through the literature thoroughly and taking
expert opinion.
Relevance of the study: Towards a gender equitable digital India
The world today has 3.58 billion internet users. Roughly 2 billion (56%) are men and 1.57 billion
(44%) are women. Of that shortfall of 430 million users, 42% comes from India 2.With an aim to
“transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy”, the Government
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of India’s Digital India programme was launched on July 2, 2015 and has since then been
prioritized in most policy agendas in India. But the dream of a Digital India will never meet
reality until Indian women are refused access to Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs) solely based on gender, which is a primary cause of low female representation in the
digital space.
This lack of equal opportunities to access online information and services deprive women of
higher/quality education and skill training that could help them contribute to the economy and
become leaders on a global level. This digital divide can be tackled only when citizens are made
aware of the use of digital technology to reduce information inequality and its benefits at all
levels. This research’s primary aim is to create digital awareness and address the information
disparity. The exercise will facilitate the women to do most of their jobs within the comfort of
their homes as everything will be available over the mobile phone devices and will be able to
resolve or voice a number of issues which concern them on a daily basis.
There is a dire need of such research to increase the accessibility of digital technologies which
are not just tools of enablers but ingredients of a new socio-economic order that poses new
concerns for gender justice. This project will also be helpful in reaching out to the government
authorities or policy makers with suggestions to work towards a gender equitable digital India.
The project will set an example for other educational institutions and organisations to take such
initiatives in other parts of India especially the rural regions.
Data Analysis
It would not be an exaggeration to say that mobile phone is one of the most important
technological revolutions in human history. Along with technological development, it is also
contributing immensely in making the person more self-reliant and aware. Mobile technology is
proving to be a very effective source of dissemination for proper implementation of various
social programs announced by the government and is catering to the needs of different areas of
health, education, profession, and employment etc. It is essential for the everyday tasks and aids
in meeting the varied needs of the present times along with acting as a media connector and as an
e-learning device facilitating literacy. (Padmini Chattu, 2013) Apart from providing smart phone
education as an important tool of information technology, providing training related to internet
and email services, developing web-based information systems, it is also being used for the
empowerment of rural slum women, which is also the objective of this research. During the
research, we conducted a preliminary survey assessing the smartphone and its applications and
the basic digital literacy level of women, in which a number of questions were asked to a female
respondent, in which it was found that most women in these areas had no direct access to
smartphone, but they had access to smart phones through family members, so the respondent's
mobile usage was minimal. The level of digital literacy also varied as some women only knew
how to make phone calls and send messages, watch YouTube videos, take pictures and use social
media platforms such as Facebook, etc., while others had a limited knowledge of it. It was also
found that the Internet is playing a different role among women of all age groups. During the
research, regular community classes and workshops were organized for the women hailing from
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slums to educate these women about the use of smartphone devices and the benefits they can
draw from it. Women were not only given basic information about smartphones such as making
them aware of basic functionality like making calls, sending messages, taking photos and
recording videos, but were also encouraged to share the same photos and videos on social
networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube through which they could communicate
their problems directly to the concerned government authorities. In addition to it, women were
also informed about various types of mobile applications related to sanitation, menstruation,
health, family planning, women safety, entrepreneurial platforms among others. After imparting
digital literacy to these women for almost a year, another survey was done with a list of
questions (Questionnaire) asked from female respondents. Also, it was accompanied by a focus
group of ten women examining the changes that the use of smartphones and Internet services
brought to their lives during the tenure of imparting digital literacy.
Many women had also started using smartphones and internet services with a great deal of
confidence and knowledge to attend the workshop. Not only were they able to learn many things
through the use of smartphones but she also felt a sense of empowerment. Some women learned
tailoring through YouTube videos, learned cooking methods and also showed interest in learning
more skills by organizing workshops, organizing regular sessions, live demos and lectures. In
this manner, with the aid of digital literacy it paved way for empowering women in the slum
areas and thus helped in reducing the gender-based digital divide.
During one year, the focus was on creating digital awareness among slum women. The focus was
to raise awareness about the use of smart phones and the Internet and provide women with better
opportunities through digital tools so that women learn to speak for themselves and assert their
own voices. By creating useful content in the form of audio-visual material, they can learn to
voice their issues themselves and then upload them through social media platforms addressing
the concerned government authorities.
A pair of pre-workshop and post-workshop survey were conducted to examine how digital
literacy can empower women in Delhi/Urban slums and how the department’s Digital Literacy
project has benefitted women form the slum areas under study. According to the survey report, a
total of 144 responses were recorded with participation from Annanagar - 50, JJ Colony
Shakurpur - 45, and Shakti Nagar - 49. The pre-workshop questionnaire was designed to collect
data on women’s theoretical and effective access to smart phones in the urban slums.
Pre-workshop Survey:
On further inquisition about who owned that smart phone in the family, 47 per cent women said
husband, 21 per cent said father, 14 per cent said son, 10 per cent said brother, and 8 per cent
said daughter. The responses pointed at a severe lack of ownership of smart phones in the
participating women. In the pre-workshop survey, on the question, “Does anyone in your family
possess a smart phone?” - 99 per cent of the women responded in affirmation.
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Does anyone in your family possess a smart phone?

Yes No
1%
99%
Who owns that smart phone?
8%
21% Father
14%
Husband
Brother
10%
Son
Daughter
47%
Then on the question of whether the women had access to the smart phone in the family, 85 per
cent of women recorded accessibility while only 15 per cent women denied ease of access. This
data suggested a significant availability of basic technological resources required to undertake
the digital literacy project.
Do you have access to that smart phone?

Yes No
15%
85%
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As per the questionnaire, question number three read - “Do you know how to use a smart
phone?” As per the response, it was noted that 58 per cent of women could operate a smart
phone while 42 per cent were unfamiliar to the course of action. The following question in the
survey examined the respondents’ willingness to learn its usage, wherein 71 per cent of women
were keen to learn, 14.5 per cent were averse and 14.5 per cent were unsure.
Do you know how to use a smart phone?

Yes No
42%
58%
When the women were asked about the purposes for which they use the smart phones: making
calls and sending messages emerged as the primary purposes while clicking photographs,
watching videos, and listening to music were the secondary uses. Further, the survey delved into
the monetary nuances of the available smart phone. Responses to how often is the phone
recharged were - 79 per cent monthly, 9 per cent fortnightly, 8 per cent weekly, and 4 per cent
others. On the question of who pays for the phone recharge in the family - 29 per cent women
said they pay themselves while 71 per cent of women were dependent on others to pay for the
phone recharge. Thus, women were hugely dependent on their family members for monthly
recharges which further decreases their possibility to access internet services more frequently.
The questionnaire proceeded with the question, “Have you ever accessed the internet via your
smart phone?” It was recorded that 56 per cent of women have accessed the internet previously
while 44 per cent of women have never used the internet service.
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Have you ever accessed the internet via your smart phone?
Yes No
44%
56%
The following question on the purposes of using the internet revealed that most women accessed
internet on their smart phones for the Social Media networks like Facebook-WhatsApp and for
watching videos on YouTube et al. While some women also accessed the internet to solve daily
hacks and watch DIY videos, but only a small proportion of women used the internet for
business purposes. Taking cue from the most popular purpose of the internet among the
participants, the survey inquired whether the women have a social media account. To this, 64 per
cent women responded in negative while only 36 per cent women had their own social media
account.
Do you have a social media account?

Yes No
36%
64%
The questionnaire then investigated the awareness of respondents on the advanced application-
based uses of smart phones that are beneficial to women. According to the data recorded, 25 per
cent women were aware on how smart phones can be used for women’s safety via various
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applications launched by the government and Delhi Police while an underwhelming 75 per cent
of women were unaware of the same.
Are you aware that smart phones can be used for women's safety?
Yes No
25%
75%
Similar trends were recorded wherein only 28 per cent of respondents were aware that smart
phones can be used by women for menstrual hygiene, and pre and post-natal care, while 72 per
cent women were uninformed about these benefits. This was a major area that the project
required a focus on.
Are you aware that smart phones can be used for menstrual hygiene?
Yes No
28%
72%
As per the survey, question number fifteen read, “Given a chance would you like to learn some
basic skills like making videos, editing and posting them on social networking sites?” As per the
responses, good 85 per cent women were keen on learning, 11 percent women were sceptical and
4 per cent of them were unsure. When asked whether the participants would like to start their
own small- scale business with the help of a smart phone without having to leave their home - 68
per cent women were interested, 24 per cent women refused and 8 per cent of them were unsure.
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Would you like to start your own small-scale business with the help of a
smart phone?
8%
24% Yes
No
Not sure
68%
The pre-workshop survey concluded with the question that - “If there is a workshop organised in
your area regarding the same would you like to be a part of it?” Here, it was observed that 86 per
cent of women were enthusiastic about participating in the Digital Literacy workshop and were
willing to learn, while 8 per cent of women turned down and 6 per cent of women were unsure of
participation in the workshop. This data implied at a significant availability of basic human
capital required to undertake the digital literacy project.
Would you like to participate in a workshop organised in your area
regarding the same?
6%
8%
Yes
No
Not sure
86%
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Post-workshop Survey:
A post-workshop survey was conducted to analyse how the workshop, one-on-one sessions and
other activities conducted during the course of the project have fared in empowering women
through digital literacy. The questionnaire first inquired how many women participated in the
workshop, to which it was noted that 83 per cent women translated their willingness into reality
while 17 per cent did not participate.
Did you participate in the awareness workshop on Digital

Literacy and Women Empowerment?
Yes No
17%
83%
For the question, “Have you now learnt how to use a smart phone, if you did not know it
earlier?” - A noteworthy section of 81 per cent women answered in affirmation while only 14 per
cent still did not know how to use a smart phone and 5 per cent women reported to be in the
learning process. The majority participants confirmed that they could now make/receive calls,
send/receive messages, use social media, watch online videos and listen to music on the smart
phones.
Have you now learnt how to use a smart phone, if you did not
know it earlier?
5%
14%
Yes
No
In the process
81%
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Following suit, there was a significant increase in the number of women who could now use
internet services / mobile data on their smart phones from 56 per cent in pre-workshop period to
81 per cent in post workshop survey. The number of women who could not access internet via
smart phones has seen a decrement from 44 per cent to 19 per cent.
Do you use internet services/mobile data on your phone?

Yes No
19%
81%
A similar development can be seen in the number of women who now own a social media
account increasing from 36 per cent to 63 per cent, indicating an important growth in the online
presence of women on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and others.
Do you now have a social media account, if you did not have earlier?
Yes No
37%
63%
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The participants in the workshop learnt to click photographs and record videos on their smart
phones. When asked whether they uploaded their video/photo on social media platforms - 53 per
cent women confirmed while 47 per cent women denied uploading.
Have you uploaded any of your videos/photos on social media

platforms?
Yes No
47%
53%
Further, the survey examined whether the participating women considered social media
platforms like Twitter to become a voice for the voiceless, especially women. It was recorded
that 69 per cent women invested their trust in social media networks to voice their concerns
while 10 per cent women were unconvinced and 21 per cent women unsure of assigning this role
to the social media platforms.
Do you think social media platforms like twitter can be a voice for the
voiceless, especially women?
21%
Yes
10% No
Not sure
69%
As per the questionnaire, question number ten read - “Do you think smart phone and mobile
internet usage can be beneficial for women?” In response to this question, 89 percent women
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supported the statement while only 11 per cent reported indifference to the empowering potential
of digital literacy for women.
Do you think smart phone and mobile internet usage can be beneficial
for women?
Yes No
11%
89%
The participants suggested that the usage of mobile and internet has helped women get
information about female health and pregnancy, updates on news and entertainment, and
awareness on women’s safety. When asked whether learning about smart phone usage has
empowered the participants in anyway - 83 per cent women responded positively while only 17
percent disagreed on being empowered through digital literacy.
Do you think learning about smart phone usage has empowered you?
Yes No
17%
83%
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The post-workshop survey recorded that 81 per cent women believe that the workshop has been
beneficial for them while 19 per cent denied the benefits of digital literacy.
Has the workshop been beneficial for you?

Yes No
19%
81%
On the question, “Given a chance, would you like to learn any other skill that can benefit your
personal or financial growth?” It is noted that 52 per cent women are keen on learning further
skills while 48 per cent are not interested.
Would you like to learn any other skills that can benefit your personal
or financial growth?
Yes No
48%
52%
When collecting feedback on what would the participants want to learn regarding smart phone
usage that the workshop has not been able to address - Surajmukhi (29, Maid) said she would
like to know more about the usage of smart phone for business purposes, and Anjum (15,
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Student) and Martha (38, BPO Employee) wished to learn more about editing videos in smart
phones.
Outcomes of the Research:
The research in its course of one year has taken a giant leap in understanding and enhancing the
digital knowledge of women slum dwellers in Delhi NCR. While the research has further scope
and more work can be conducted in the area but some of the immediate outcomes that we
observed are as follows:
o Increased usage of smartphones amongst women.
The research team has contributed positively in raising awareness regarding the
knowledge and usage of smartphones amongst women. Prior to the study, only 58 percent
women knew how to use a smartphone, whereas post the project there was significant
increase in that number that registered 81 percent women being aware of its usage, 5
percent still learning and only 14 percent did not know its functioning.
o An increase in the access and usage of internet amongst women.

The project also registered a remarkable increase in the number of women who started
using the internet/ mobile data and related services on their smartphones. Before the
workshop only 56 percent women knew how to access the interent on their mobile
phones whereas post the workshop the number increased to 81 percent. The number of
women who could not access the internet via their smartphones decreased from 44
percent in the pre-workshop survey to only 19 percent in post-workshop survey.
o Increased number of social media accounts.

The research also contributed in the women’s engagement with social media platforms
like Twitter and Facebook, indicating an increase in the online presence of women. The
number of women who owned a social media account post the workshop increased to 63
percent from an earlier 36 percent.
o Learning technical nuances, producing user-generated content using a smartphone

and giving a voice to the voiceless.
It was observed that many women could now use a smartphone for multiple purposes
other than making calls or sending messages. Of these clicking pictures and making
videos emerged as an important function that women executed with their smartphones.
Almost 53 percent women were now able to click photographs and upload them on social
media platforms. This implies that women not only learnt technical nuances but could
now also make their voices heard more easily.
o Women empowerment through digital literacy.
On a broader level, all the above outcomes signal towards a larger concern which is
empowering the women. The project was able to fulfil that basic goal of making the
women empowered by increasing their accessibility to and knowledge of the smartphones
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and internet usage and making them more independent. Almost 83 percent of the women
respondents said that they felt empowered as a result of this project. Approximately 81
percent women felt that the workshop and the project benefitted them in one way or the
other.
Conclusion
Communication technology plays a vital role in the progress and development of any country as
well as in the development of the personality of an individual. With the help of information
technology, where the process of dissemination of information is accelerated. Moreover, it is also
proving to be a boon for many sections of the society. Today, rural areas of India have become
closer to the urbanized society through media, telecommunication, internet, etc. and an
awareness has come in them. If we assess in the last few years, through this, the changes seen in
the social and economic conditions of women in our country can be seen. When women are
given the opportunity to get equal opportunities in economic, social and political fields, they
certainly have the ability to influence the direction of social change. According to the draft
released by the National Policy for Women (2016), "The concept of women's empowerment is a
socio-political ideal that relates to women's rights. It is a process that makes them realize their
full potential. It refers to their independent decision making, access to opportunities, resources
and choices within and outside the home.” In the light of this background, this research paper
has been presented which aims to examine the role of mobile and information technology in
empowering women in our country, especially in the context of the problems faced by women
from the slum areas of Delhi.
During the research, it was observed that information technology, in particular, smart phones
have indeed proved to be beneficial in raising awareness among women in the slum areas of
Delhi. Their curiosity towards various aspects of life, their safety and rights is increasing and
they are becoming more self-reliant with the use of smart phones. The smart phone is not only
providing an effective source of information, but is also acting as a security shield. In near
future, research endeavours such as these, with the aid of financial support provided by the
government will prove to be a milestone in the path of digital awareness leading to a potential
utopian state where every woman in India will realize the concept of empowerment. In a way,
this research played a significant role in changing the state of society and women in particular by
making a positive contribution to the digital literacy initiative among women in the slum areas
around Delhi NCR and has also reduced the gender-based digital divide through digital literacy.
References
1.See https://www.statista.com/statistics/467163/forecast-of-smartphone-users-in-india/
2. See https://www.statista.com/statistics/262966/number-of-internet-users-in-selected-countries/
3. See https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/internet-in-india-gaping-
gender-gap-5296818/
4. See https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/sD6mVqLAEa7cvfJtmdXXuO/She-is-offlineIndias-digital-
gender-divide.html
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IRJMSH Vol 12 Issue 4 [Year 2021] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print)

Digital Literacy and Women Empowerment: A case study of Delhi/Urban

Does anyone in your family possess a smart phone?

Who owns that smart phone?

Do you have access to that smart phone?

Do you know how to use a smart phone?

Do you have a social media account?

Did you participate in the awareness workshop on Digital

Do you use internet services/mobile data on your phone?

Have you uploaded any of your videos/photos on social media

Has the workshop been beneficial for you?

o An increase in the access and usage of internet amongst women.

o Increased number of social media accounts.

o Learning technical nuances, producing user-generated content using a smartphone

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