Background

In India, only 2.7% of homes among the poorest 20% households possess a computer, with 8.9% having access to internet facilities. The use of the internet is particularly sparse in rural areas with only 31% of people using it while in metropolitan areas around 67% use the internet. In fact, only forty percent of the young Indians aged between fifteen and twenty nine that were surveyed said they could work with files on a computer, and with an increase in the complexity of the task, the skill level continued to reduce. This gap in skill has severe consequences for individuals today, particularly those from underserved and marginalized communities with staggered access to basic necessities such as healthcare and education. 

For young children in particular, the Covid-19 pandemic iterated the importance of adaptability to digital spaces, especially in the context of online learning and education. As the majority of schools issued instructional materials digitally, the availability of educational materials to children during the pandemic was dependent on having a computer or smartphone. Similarly, internet connectivity and literacy were also essential to the sustainability of self-employed workers and working adults. The widening digital divide is also helping to preserve inequality in education that eventually results in access to the labor market and financial freedom as adults. Therefore, it is necessary that children, especially those from underserved communities, receive a comprehensive education on computer literacy. 

Sources: 

1. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/in-charts-which-states-are-the-best-on-computer-literacy-11678468713746.html

2. https://idronline.org/article/inequality/indias-digital-divide-from-bad-to-worse/