Digital India: How Technology Can Help Brands Expand Their Rural Footprint
Digital penetration in companies and daily operations of India is increasing especially since the onset of initiatives such as Digital India and Skill India, and the global pandemic also takes credit in accelerating this growth. Now, having a presence online is a necessity for businesses rather than a luxury. Companies are now even able to tap into the rural markets which contribute to 25% of the GDP due to factors such as rising incomes, electrification, digitization, and improved infrastructure. It is predicted that Tier-3 towns and villages will release India’s potential. Companies are able to reach rural consumers through technology-backed channel solutions and intelligent marketing. A lot of startups are trying innovative communication, marketing, and distribution techniques to reach rural consumers. Read more.
Equipping teaching staff with ICT training will bridge learning divide outcomes in online education
With the pandemic shutting down schools and other education institutions, students in rural areas and those belonging to underprivileged sections succumbed to the disparities in accessing internet and technology, which affected learning outcomes. Even teachers were unprepared and ill-equipped for the sudden shift to online education. A report recommended that teachers have improved terms of employment and working conditions in public as well as private schools, especially in rural areas and ‘aspirational districts’ such as the Northeast. Increasing the number of teaching staff, trained in ICT, and recognizing them as frontline workers will also improve learning outcomes. This shift to online education has students deprived of not only the benefit of physical learning but also social interaction and participation, which is integral to the growth of a child. Read more.
Updates on education in India
Over 500 Data Privacy experts have been awarded certification by the Tsaaro Academy, the six-month ‘Data Protection Officer (DPO) certification course’, through practical-approach-based training. This programme aims to satisfy the demand for skilled professionals in the midst of the rising data breaches.
The Professor of Economics and Programme Director, Vidya Mahambare, at the Great Lakes Institute of Management or the GLIM in Chennai has been appointed as the Expert Committee of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission to prepare the draft policy of the state on ‘Employability and Skilling for a Transitioning Economy’.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship or the MSDE has issued and official Gazette Notification that the Government of India has recognised the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India or the EDII as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ or CoE in skilling ecosystem.
ImaginXP and OrangeSlates have entered a strategic partnership with the aim of upskilling more than 50,000 school teachers with the latest teaching methodologies as well as digital technology tools with the help of new-age approaches. This collaboration has also launched the ‘School Connect Programme’, where 5,000 schools will be able to enable students as well as teachers with skills to shape a better future with live counselling sessions. Read more.
