Google, Tata Trusts’ Internet Saathi programme now live in 2.6 lakh villages

New Delhi: Internet Saathi programme, a digital literacy initiative of Google India and Tata Trusts, aimed at empowering women in rural India, reaches 2.6 lakh villages across the country.

Announcing the milestone on Tuesday, the company said the programme has contributed towards bridging the digital gender divide in rural India (female to male ratio from 1 in 10 in 2015 to 4 in 10 in 2018) and will expand to cover two new states — Punjab & Odisha.

In Punjab, the programme will cover around 5,000 villages, starting from Paras Rampur, Kotli Than Singh, Burj, Vehra, from Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala districts. In Odisha, the programme has kicked off from Sindhia in Baleshwar, Parakana in Puri, Bhuinpur in Kendrapara, and will cover 16,000-plus villages.