International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160   •   Impact Factor: 9.24

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Bridging the Last Mile: Digital Literacy, E-Governance Adoption, and Its Impact on Empowering Marginalized Women Among SC Communities in Andhra Pradesh

Author(s) Kiran Estarla
Country India
Abstract This paper examines the intersection of digital literacy, e-governance adoption, and the empowerment of Scheduled Caste (SC) women in Andhra Pradesh — a population doubly marginalized by caste-based exclusion and gender discrimination. Drawing on secondary data from NFHS-5, NSSO, TRAI, and Digital India programme reports, the study situates its inquiry within the ICT4D paradigm and the Capability Approach. Although Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a digital governance leader through platforms such as e-Seva, Mee Seva, AP Fibernet, and Jagananna welfare schemes, the distribution of digital access remains sharply unequal along caste, gender, and geographic lines. SC women in rural districts face compounded disadvantages: low digital device ownership, inadequate mobile internet access, and foundational literacy deficits. The paper identifies five reinforcing structural barriers — infrastructural inadequacy, intersectional literacy gaps, patriarchal household norms, caste-based social capital deficits, and intermediary dependence — collectively constituting a "digital empowerment deficit." In response, the paper proposes the Digital Empowerment Framework for Marginalised Women (DEFMW), advocating caste- and gender-sensitive digital literacy programs, inclusive e-governance platform design, and community-level facilitation mechanisms to translate Digital India's promise into substantive equality for SC women.
Keywords digital literacy, e-governance, Scheduled Caste women, Andhra Pradesh, ICT4D, digital divide, women's empowerment
Published In Volume 4, Issue 2, March-April 2022
Published On 2022-03-04
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2022.v04i02.81790
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CrossRef DOI prefix of IJFMR is 10.36948/ijfmr

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