(Riya Singh, Intern Journalist): WhatsApp has teamed up with Common Services Centers (CSC) to launch a chatbot for citizens to receive digital literacy services and resources in the country. The aim of this initiative is to bridge the digital divide and spur rural entrepreneurship. This is being done in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has disrupted education and skill development initiatives across the country. Programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) and the Digital Beti initiative will be available in English, Hindi, and seven other regional languages.
People can send ‘Namaste’ to CSC Academy’s official WhatsApp account at 9999189321, in order to access details about course modules of flagship programs like Digital Beti and PMGDISHA.
Shivnath Thukral, head of public policy, WhatsApp India, said that WhatsApp would continue to invest in partnerships to help entrepreneurs learn new digital skills for India to grow.
Over 500 unique users have accessed CSC’s WhatsApp chatbot and it is expected to be used by 10 million beneficiaries by August 2021. The Digital Beti initiative aims to train 5,000 rural entrepreneurs on digital literacy in over 3,000 villages across 10 Indian states, while the PMGDISHA initiative focuses on making at least 40 percent of rural households digitally literate.
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