India’s digital transformation has created opportunities for women’s empowerment while increasing the risk of tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).
- To address this, the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the ‘Ab Koi Bahana Nahi’ campaign.
India’s Digital Progress
- India’s Digital Revolution: India’s Digital Revolution refers to the widespread use of technology and the digitization of processes across various sectors like medicine, communication, and governance.
- India has made significant strides in its digital transformation. Key indicators of this progress include:
- 1.18 billion mobile connections
- 700 million internet users
- 600 million smartphones
- Empowerment and Connectivity: Initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which has expanded financial inclusion by nearly four-fold since 2015, have seen women hold 55.6 percent of all bank accounts.
- JAM Trinity: The integration of Jan Dhan Account, Aadhaar, and mobile services has made cashless transactions and direct benefits transfer more accessible, especially for women in rural areas.
| Ab Koi Bahana Nahi” CampaignOn November 25, 2024, the Ministry for Women and Child Development launched the “Ab Koi Bahana Nahi” campaign, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.Aligned with the global “16 Days of Activism” from November 25 to December 10, the campaign emphasizes the urgent need to address violence against women and girls. The Campaign was inspired by the UN’s No Excuse initiative and highlighted the rising instances of gender-based violence and calls for immediate, sustained action. |
|---|
Dark Side of Digital Connectivity
- While digital connectivity has brought empowerment, it has also exposed women to new risks, particularly in the form of tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Some forms of TFGBV include:
- Cyberstalking: Persistently following and harassing someone online, often by misusing personal data.
- Online trolling: Involves targeting politicians or journalists or others by making provocative or offensive demands.
- Non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
- Impersonation and fraud through fake profiles: Involves creating false identities to deceive or exploit others.
- Voyeurism and online grooming: They are the acts of secretly watching individuals or manipulating them online, often for harmful purposes.
- These often force women and girls to retreat from digital spaces.
- Urban Areas and Rural Areas: Rural India has a higher percentage of internet users than urban areas (20% more users as per 2021 Nielsen report).
- Many women and girls struggle with digital literacy and are often unaware of their rights or the resources available to report abuse.
Legal and Institutional Responses to TFGBV
- Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2024 provide legal protection against digital violence.
- The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal allows for anonymous reporting of cybercrimes, making it easier for victims to seek help.
- The Digital Shakti program, launched by the National Commission for Women, provides safety tools specifically for women to navigate online spaces securely.
- Government-led Information Security Education and Awareness Programme spreads digital safety awareness.
- 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women: India, along with other UN member states, signed a declaration calling for the promotion of “secure, stable, accessible, and affordable ICT environments” for all women and girls.
Way Forward
- Strengthening Legal Frameworks: Enforcing stricter laws against online violence is essential. This includes ensuring swift justice for survivors which can act as a deterrence.
- Expanding Digital Literacy: Expanding digital literacy programs for women and girls is critical. These initiatives should include:
- Integrating safe online practices into school curriculums
- Offering community workshops for both women and men, across different age groups, to improve digital safety awareness
- Engaging Men and Boys as Allies: To address the root causes of gender-based violence, it is vital to engage men and boys in fostering respectful and inclusive digital spaces.
- Collaborating with the Tech Industry: While many platforms have introduced safety features, these need to be further enhanced. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to detect and remove abusive content proactively.
- Additionally, platforms should introduce user-friendly reporting mechanisms that empower users to report abuse effectively and efficiently.
- Robust Survivor Support Systems: It is equally important to develop survivor support systems to offer accessible counseling, legal aid, and rehabilitation services for victims of TFGBV.
- TechSakhi: Expanding the capacity of existing initiatives like TechSakhi, which provides accurate information and empathetic support, will ensure that survivors receive timely and effective assistance.
Conclusion
As India marks the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence each year, the message of ‘Ab Koi Bahana Nahi’ (No More Excuses) resonates loudly. Ensuring the safety of women and girls online is not only a moral responsibility but also a crucial pillar of India’s progress in the digital era.
| Q. Discuss the significance of India’s digital public infrastructure in empowering vulnerable sections, particularly women. How can gender-based digital divides and tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) hinder this progress? (15 M, 250 words) |
|---|
