BRIDGING MOUNTAINOUS DIVIDE THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY: A STUDY OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Abstract

Digital technology is impersonating as an essential part in transforming the attitude and panorama of society towards women. In the hilly state, like Himachal Pradesh, the women have less access to digital technology due to geographical disadvantages.  resulting in economic dependence and lack of market intelligence. Women are the backbone of the national rural economy. They play an important role in household and agriculture activities. So, there is a need to empower them with knowledge and capacity building programmes. The provision of training women towards the digital technological sphere can encourage them to attain socio-economic mobility as training promotes skill development while intensifying the capacity of women to earn a livelihood. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the mountainous divide, digital astuteness, and capacity building of rural women in Himachal Pradesh. The present paper is an attempt to evaluate the effects of mountainous divide and constraints to digital technology in Himachal Pradesh. The study reveals that mountainous divide hinder access to New Technology, Internet, latest Information, job Opportunity, establishing and running business, infrastructure development for digitization, women empowerment and benefits of programmes and schemes. But majority of women believed that the spread of digital technology can help them a lot.