The role of smartphone and “Digital India” technology for villagers of Bhikharirampur, Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh Pandey Rashmi1,*, Kumar Abhinav2, Das Subhankar2, Pandey Anand3,** 1Research Scholar, SNDT Women's University, Mumbai, India, Executive Officer International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) 2Graduate Student, Xavier School of Rural Management, India 3Research Scholar, NITTrichy, Founder Director, Fundamental Action and Research Foundation, India *(Corresponding author) email id: rashmi17aug@gmail.com
**anandpandey1@gmail.com
Online published on 12 April, 2023. Abstract India is a land of villages with 68% of people living in around 6,49,481 villages. Without prospering our villages India cannot progress. Smartphones are improving and changing the lives of millions of people living in rural India. Around 2008, the smartphone was introduced in India. At the time, rural citizens hardly had access to smartphones as prices were high and the illiterate were not adept in operating such devices. However, in just over a decade it has revolutionized the life of the ordinary Indian citizen, irrespective of their location, economic or educational status. The quick transformation was far reaching and long term, a paradigm shift in the way rural India communicated and lived. The Smartphone uses were ultimate during the pandemic. The achievement of ventures like e-Governance and computerized India is possible with smartphones’ assistance, as it tends to be managed by the ordinary resident of India. The research study was conducted in the village named Bhikharirampur of Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, focuses on how technology helps people with basic needs and livelihoods in the village. Significant stress has been given to evaluate the impact on the usage of Govt schemes (such as PMAY, PDS, etc.) in the era of the technology revolution. Students from School of Rural Management, XIM University in collaboration with The Fundamental Action and Research Foundation (FARF) conducted an in-depth survey regarding the impact of a total revolution from pen and paper to a seamless an online mode and how it has affected the residents of Bhikharirampur. This paper will elaborate how technology is poised to reform business openings, direct benefit transfers, offer productive medical care, granting work situated training, effective arrangement of assets and labor even in the negative conditions prevailing in Bhikharirampur. The study employed 40 structured interviews through door to door surveys. The study findings showed that with the introduction of digitalization, the people of Bhikharirampur have easy access to government services but there is more need to be done to improve the system. Although the biometric system has benefitted the PDS, but some steps to be done to prevent the loopholes. The findings will be shared at the village and block development officer for the future development of village and villagers. Top Keywords Covid-19, Lockdown, Digital India, Pandemic, Income, Interest, Migration, Employment, Direct benefit transfer. Top |