CIOIN

About 84 percent of rural India is not aware of Internet. This was highlighted in a research jointly conducted by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB.

The lack of awareness has been attributed as the primary reason that has prevented Internet penetration in rural India. The research further mentions that 38 percent of the rural population does not feel the need for Internet. It goes on to show that lack of infrastructural setup like electricity, proper Internet connection has deterred Internet penetration in rural India. 31 percent of rural population does not have Internet access point, 25 percent population has no Internet connection and about 22 percent has no electricity.

The lack of personal ownership of digital gadgets is an impediment to the Internet penetration in rural India. At present, common service centers (CSCs) and cyber cafes serve as the primary mode of accessing Internet in rural areas. More than 70 percent of the rural population access Internet through CSCs and cyber cafes. This figure brings forth the need to improve the infrastructural setup with Government of India's schemes like CSCs and State Wide Area Network (SWAN) Scheme.

Speaking about the findings of the research, Dr Subho ray, President, IAMAI said, "The high percentage of people in rural India who are not aware of Internet underlines the need for better infrastructure and schemes like CSCs and SWAN. Such schemes will go a long way in increasing the Internet penetration in rural areas."