E-Participation - Combatting Digital Divide
In 2021, APNA launched E-Participation campaign to bridge the digital divide. Era Tech E-school in Hazaribagh has trained over 220 children, women, workers, and elders in e-banking, telemedicine, job apps, safety, creativity, and women’s entrepreneurship, advancing SDG 10 by reducing inequalities.
On 09 January 2020, the Association for Parivartan of Nation launched the E-Participation campaign, designed to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to use digital tools effectively. Going beyond mere access to technology, the initiative focuses on capacity building, helping people understand how to navigate the internet, use online services, and participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
At the heart of this campaign is Era Tech, an E-school for digital education and research established in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. Era Tech has already reached over 220 participants in its first year, ranging from schoolchildren to women’s self-help groups, daily-wage workers, and elderly citizens keen to connect with their families online. Ainul Haque, a 43-year-old farmer who attended a basic digital literacy session, reflected, “For years, I depended on others to fill out online forms for government schemes. After learning here, I can now do it myself. It has saved me time, money, and stress.”
The COVID-19 pandemic made the digital divide painfully clear. Millions of children in rural India missed out on online classes, while workers without digital skills were unable to access relief measures or job opportunities posted online. The crisis showed that digital literacy is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity for resilience. As APNA’s Programme Director, Tarique Jamil, explained: “When schools shut down during the pandemic, urban children continued learning online, but rural children fell further behind. Era Tech is our response—not just for today, but to prepare communities for future crises, whether pandemics, social unrest, or economic disruption.”
Drawings by Children
Era Tech’s curriculum blends basic digital literacy (typing, email, and internet browsing) with applied skills (using e-banking, accessing telemedicine, registering for welfare schemes, and applying for jobs online). Participants also learn about online safety, cyber fraud prevention, and responsible digital behaviour. Children are encouraged to explore coding and digital creativity, while women’s groups are trained to use digital tools for small businesses such as tailoring, craftwork, and dairy farming.
The Era Tech initiative underlines APNA’s conviction that reducing inequalities, part of SDG 10, is not possible without addressing the digital divide. By offering hands-on, grassroots-level training, APNA is not only helping individuals acquire new skills but is also enabling communities to participate fully in education, governance, and the economy. Through Era Tech and the E-Participation campaign, APNA reaffirms its commitment to building a society where digital rights are human rights and where technology serves as a bridge to justice, equality, and dignity.
