Bridging the Digital Divide: Linguistic Equity and English Language Access in the Era of Digital Transformation in Rural Rajasthan..

Abstract

This digital revolution happening in India in the near future, through various initiatives like Digital India, BharatNet and BHASHINI platform powered by Artificial Intelligence will be a sustenance for all. Change in rural Rajasthan, on the other hand, is creating a digital-linguistic divide. Reliable access to good quality internet and low proficiency of digital literacy and poor English proficiency, poses a challenge to education, employment, governance and economic opportunities.

 Rajasthani dialects, Hindi and tribal languages are ignored while the digital content, government portals, edtechs focus on the use of the English language. This paper will examine the intersection in a mixed methods desk-based review. It uses the source of Jan van Dijk, the multilevel digital divide model, and Pierre Bourdieu, the linguistic capital to argue that English is a gatekeeper. The findings show a stark rural-urban divide and also the state initiatives of Rajasthan such as the integration programs under BHASHINI have huge potential but should be further scaled up in rural areas. The paper is suggested to implement the strategies in accordance with NEP 2020 and Digital India to transform in an equitable manner...