GROUP 6
WICKED PROBLEM – DIGITAL DIVIDE
GROUP MEMBERS
2328262 Ujjwal
2328316 Diya Shinto
2327952 Sanjayka E
2328352 Sowmithran
2329035 Lakshmi Shree S R
2329018 Chinmayi
Introduction
The digital divide represents a complex and multifaceted wicked problem,
reflecting unequal access to technology, internet connectivity, and digital literacy
across different social, economic, and geographical demographics. In India, this
disparity is particularly pronounced, with vast inequalities between urban and
rural areas, affluent and low-income households, and varying levels of digital
literacy across age groups and genders. The digital divide not only limits access
to essential services like education, healthcare, and e-governance but also
exacerbates existing socio-economic inequities, leaving marginalized
communities further behind. Addressing this challenge requires innovative,
systemic solutions that consider cultural, economic, and infrastructural factors,
making it a critical issue for fostering inclusive and sustainable development in a
rapidly digitizing world
SCOPING DETAILS
What is a broader area of opportunity What is a broader area of opportunity around
around this? this?
RURAL AND URBAN DIGITAL DIVIDE KNOWLEDGE OF USE
ACCESSBILITY
DIGITAL SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE
ECONOMIC GROWTH
REDUCED INEQUALITY
Digital inclusion is crucial as it
Providing digital access can
drives economic growth,
promotes equitable access to DIGITAL DIVIDE significantly improve the
essential services like
prospects for jobs, better access
education and healthcare, The digital divide is a complex and systemic issue
empowers marginalized to education and informational
that highlights the gap between individuals and
communities, and accelerates
knowledge that will also help in
India's transition into a communities with access to modern digital
digitally-driven and inclusive reducing the digital divide.
technologies and those without. This disparity not
economy.
only limits opportunities for education,
employment, and overall development but also
perpetuates social and economic inequities. As a
wicked problem, the digital divide involves
interconnected challenges, including affordability,
INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS AND
infrastructure, digital literacy, and cultural barriers. LIMITED AWARENESS
CULTURAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS
This project aims to address these challenges by The lack of affordable and reliable
• Language Barriers
focusing on bridging the divide for key stakeholders— internet infrastructure in rural and
• Digital Hesitation for semi-urban areas, combined with
students, employees, and telecom companies— insufficient education and
older generations
through innovative and inclusive solutions that drive awareness about the benefits of
• Gender divide digital tools, creates significant
equitable access and opportunity. obstacles to bridging the digital
• Economic Disparity divide. Addressing both physical
• Resistance to change connectivity and digital literacy is
critical for equitable access.
• Caste-Based Disparities
What is the narrower area of opportunity What is the narrower area of opportunity
focused on this? focused on this?
Opportunity 1: DIGITAL LITERACY CAMPAIGNS Opportunity 2: DEVELOPING COMMUNITY
Empowering Community Leaders to Drive Digital
Awareness by Implementing nationwide digital
DIGITAL HUBS FOR RURAL CONNECTIVITY
literacy campaigns targeting schools, women, and AND EDUCATION
elderly populations.
DESIGN BRIEF
Problem - Urban-Rural Digital Divide
Opportunity - Developing Community Digital Hubs for Rural
Connectivity and Education
Project Description - Address the digital divide by establishing community-
based digital hubs that provide internet access, digital
skills training, educational resources, and entrepreneurship
support for rural communities.
Scope - Nationwide initiatives targeting underserved rural and
urban groups like students, elderly populations, and
women.
Constraints - Limited funding, resistance to change in rural areas,
cultural/language barriers, time needed to scale.
Target Audience Students and educators in rural areas
- Underemployed or unemployed individuals
- - Small businesses and entrepreneurs
Exploring Questions: - How do cultural/economic factors impact the digital
divide?
- What solutions can increase digital literacy in rural
communities?
Expected Outcomes - Increased digital inclusion
- improved education/employment access
- local economic growth
Metrics for Success - Number of active users and community engagement
- Improvements in digital literacy and device ownership
- Increase in educational attainment and employment rates
- Growth in local entrepreneurship and small business
development
- - Reduction in the urban-rural digital divide over time
RESEARCH PLAN
Who or what will Where will What Number of When Who on the team
we study? we find the questions/issues observations, will the is responsible?
people or will we interviews, or research
information? explore? inputs happen?
Students and Schools, What are the 10-15 students to Week 1-2 Diya
youth in rural colleges, challenges be surveyed; 3
areas community students face in school/college
learning accessing digital leaders to be
centers resources? What interviewed
programs or
initiatives can
help them?
Women in rural Self-help What are the 10-12 women to Week 1-2 Chinmayi
communities groups, main barriers be surveyed; 2-3
women’s women face in women’s group
organizations, accessing digital leaders to be
rural technology? How interviewed
households can targeted
literacy
programs
address this?
Elderly Community What is the level 5-7 elders to be Week 2-3 Sowmithran
populations in centers, of interest observed; 3
rural areas households, among the interviews to be
local elderly in conducted with
government learning digital families or
offices tools? What community
support leaders
mechanisms are
required?
Telecom service Telecom What are the 2 telecom Week 3-4 Ujjwal
providers offices, major barriers providers to be
customer to infrastructure interviewed;
service development in secondary
centers rural areas? research on
What initiatives telecom reports
are underway to to be referred
improve
connectivity?
Rural Local What are the 3 rural Week 4-5 Lakshmi
development government existing officers/NGOs to
officers and offices, NGO government or be interviewed;
NGOs offices NGO programs case studies to be
targeting the reviewed
digital divide?
How effective
are these
programs?
Urban Digital How do urban 5 hubs to be Week 5-6 Sanjayka
community hubs literacy solutions to visited; 10
(comparison centers, digital literacy observations to be
study) libraries in differ from rural conducted
urban areas needs? What can
be adapted for
rural
implementation?
