Internet Saathi, Google and Tata’s joint-initiative, launched in West Bengal

Internet search engine Google and Tata Trusts’ joint initiative Internet Saathi was launched on 8 June 2016 in Kolkata, West Bengal.
•    The initiative aims at reducing the digital gender gap in rural areas of India such as Purulia, where girls have now been trained to use the Internet and teach others in turn.
•    Internet Saathi had been successfully launched in five states. In July 2015, it began in four more states including West Bengal.
•    About Internet Saathi - Internet Saathi aims at empowering women and their communities by providing basic training on the usage and benefits of the internet.
•    The programme is driving a meaningful impact in improving the lives of women and their communities in rural India.
•    It focuses on training women in rural India to explore the various uses of Internet, who then impart training to the larger rural community in their own and neighbouring villages.
•    Google helps in training the Saathi’s and provides data enabled devices along with the training material.
•    On ground training classes is conducted by involving self help group federations and local NGO members who are supported by Tata Trusts on-ground network.
•    In the last ten months, the initiative has been active in villages across five states in India, namely Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.