Tata Trusts and Google India have expanded Internet Saathi, a digital education initiative, by enabling cashless transactions through MobiKwik, with an aim to drive digital economy in rural parts of India.

The Internet Saathi initiative aims to transform the lives of over 200 million with digital literacy.

The initiative focusses on training communities to go online, whilst providing them access to internet-powered devices and educating them about cashless announcements.

Tata Trusts and Google India launched the programme with an objective to reduce gender barrier in accessing internet and its benefits. Launched in July 2015, Internet Saathi is now live in 10 States, reaching out to over 26,000 villages. Close to 12 lakh women have benefited from the programme by getting trained on digital and internet literacy.

Commenting on the partnership, Upasana Taku, co-founder, MobiKwik, said: “This initiative is our contribution towards making wallet payments a reality for masses in India.”

She said the demonetisation has encouraged millions of Indians in villages to adopt the new way of wallet payments.

However, most of them do not possess a smartphone and cannot download and operate an app by themselves.

“Internet Saathi shall help resolve this issue at a grass-root level, which is the need of the hour.”

Raman Kalyanakrishnan, Project Director, Tata Trusts, said: “As a part of the Digital India initiative and Tata Trusts’ overall digital strategy, our aim is to drive sustainable empowerment with a focus on digital innovation.”

srivats.kr@thehindu.co.in

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