Digital Inclusion and Women’s Empowerment in Tribal Gujarat: An Empirical Study of the Internet Saathi Programme in Narmada District

Abstract

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has transformed social, economic, and informational access across the globe. However, rural and tribal women in India continue to experience structural exclusion from digital resources, resulting in a persistent gendered digital divide. The Internet Saathi Programme, a collaborative initiative of Google and Tata Trusts, was introduced to promote digital literacy among rural women and enhance their socio-economic empowerment. This study examines the effectiveness of the Internet Saathi Programme among tribal women in Narmada district, Gujarat. Using a descriptive research design, using purposive sampling data were collected from 60 women beneficiaries across four talukas of Narmada district through structured interviews. The findings reveal that the programme significantly improved digital awareness, functional use of smartphones, access to government schemes, and self-confidence among participants. However, infrastructural limitations, low literacy levels, and socio-cultural barriers constrained the programme’s full potential. The study concludes that digital literacy initiatives like Internet Saathi can act as catalysts for women’s empowerment in tribal regions when complemented by sustained institutional support, infrastructure development, and gender-sensitive implementation strategies.