THE DIGITAL FRONTIER OF INEQUALITY

THE CONTEXT: The rise of tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) threatens to undermine progress in gender equality. As India grapples with this dual-edged sword of digital empowerment and increased risk, the government’s recent launch of the ‘Ab Koi Bahana Nahi’ campaign aligns with global efforts to combat gender-based violence in the digital age, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to ensure safe and inclusive digital spaces for all.

THE BACKGROUND: India’s digital landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, positioning the country as a global leader in digital adoption and financial inclusion. As of 2024, significant improvements in Internet infrastructure have accompanied this digital revolution:

1.12 billion mobile connections (78% of the population).

751.5 million Internet users (52.4% penetration).

462 million social media users (32.2% of the population).

Median mobile internet speed: 94.62 Mbps (418% increase from 2023).

Median fixed internet speed: 58.62 Mbps (19.4% increase from 2023).

DIGITAL INCLUSION INITIATIVES:

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Launched in 2014, PMJDY has been a cornerstone of India’s financial inclusion efforts:

• • 13 crore bank accounts opened (as of August 2024).
  • 56 crore (55.6%) accounts held by women.
  • Total deposits reached Rs. 2.31 lakh crore (up from Rs. 15,670 crore in March 2015).
  • Average deposit per account: Rs. 4,352 (4x increase since August 2015).

Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) Trinity: The JAM trinity has revolutionized direct benefit transfers and digital payments:

• • 4 million RuPay cards issued to PMJDY account holders.
  • Enabled swift transfer of government welfare schemes during crises (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic).
  • Reduced gender gap in financial access from 20% (2011) to 6% (2017).

IMPACT AND SIGNIFICANCE:

• • Financial Empowerment of Women: 79% now own and use a bank or savings account (up from 53% in 2015-16). 69% of loans under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana granted to women entrepreneurs.
  • Digital Payments Revolution: UPI transactions reached 9.34 billion in volume and Rs. 14.89 trillion in value (May 2023). Digital wallets and QR code-based payments are rapidly being adopted.
  • Rural-Urban Digital Bridge: 6% of PMJDY accounts opened in rural and semi-urban areas. 99.95% of inhabited villages have access to banking facilities within a 5-km radius.
  • Boost to Formal Economy: Increased tax base and reduced cash transactions—enhanced transparency in government subsidy disbursements.
  • Entrepreneurship and Credit Access: 40 lakh loans amounting to Rs. 53,600 crore sanctioned to women entrepreneurs under the Stand-Up India Scheme. Micro-credit accessibility improved through digital footprints.

THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES:

• • Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV): According to a UN Women report (2023), 52% of women in India have experienced online violence. Forms of TFGBV include cyberstalking, online harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and doxing. Only 7% of women who have experienced violence report it to formal sources globally, with this figure dropping to a mere 1% in India. Women in public-facing roles, such as journalists and politicians, face heightened risks. A study found that 73% of women journalists have experienced online violence in the course of their work.
  • Digital Divide: NSSO data reveals that only 24% of rural households have internet access, compared to 66% in urban areas. According to NFHS-5 data, in rural India, men are nearly twice as likely as women to have used the internet (49% vs 25%). The GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2024 indicates that women in India are 11% less likely than men to own a mobile phone and 40% less likely to use internet services.
  • Awareness Gap: Only 33% of women in India are aware of mobile internet, according to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2023. Many women are unaware of their digital rights or the mechanisms available for reporting online abuse. This lack of awareness often leads to underreporting of TFGBV incidents and hinders effective intervention.
  • Social Norms: In rural India, women frequently experience intra-household discrimination, preventing them from accessing digital devices within their homes. Mobile phones are seen as a threat to a woman’s reputation before marriage and an interruption to caregiving responsibilities after marriage. A study by BBC Media Action India (2024) found that young men (18-25 years) have the most regressive gender attitudes but more progressive attitudes toward digital usage than older gatekeepers and young women
  • Inadequate Legal Framework and Enforcement: The Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2024, provide some legal recourse. However, these laws are often not gender-specific and may not address the nuanced nature of TFGBV. Law enforcement agencies usually lack the technical expertise to handle such cases effectively.
  • Intersectionality of Violence: Women from lower castes, religious minorities, and the LGBTQIA+ community face heightened risks of online violence. This intersectionality of discrimination requires nuanced policy approaches often lacking in current frameworks.
  • Psychological and Economic Consequences: Victims often experience severe emotional distress, loss of status, decreased productivity, and, in extreme cases, suicidal tendencies. While difficult to quantify, the economic cost of TFGBV is significant in terms of lost opportunities and productivity.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• • Strengthening Legal and Policy Frameworks: Strengthen intermediary liability provisions to hold tech platforms accountable for hosting abusive content while ensuring compliance with international human rights standards. Train law enforcement personnel on digital crimes and gender sensitivity. For instance, the Justice Verma Committee (2013) emphasized the need for police reform to address crimes against women effectively.
  • Expanding Digital Literacy Programs: Scale up initiatives like BharatCares’ Computer Training and Digital Literacy Program, focusing on rural women and marginalized groups. Leverage self-help groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM to disseminate digital literacy at the grassroots level. The Nayi Chetna campaign has already mobilized millions of participants nationwide.
  • Collaboration with Tech Industry for Enhanced Safety Features: Encourage tech companies to adopt safety-by-design principles, ensuring that platforms are inherently safer for women users. Mandate transparency in content moderation practices and improve grievance redressal mechanisms on platforms.
  • Developing Robust Survivor Support Systems: Expand helplines like TechSakhi and integrate them with mental health services, legal aid, and police support for a holistic response. Ensure survivor-centric data privacy policies that protect victims’ identities while enabling them to report crimes safely.
  • Nationwide Campaigns to Challenge Societal Norms: Launch sustained campaigns like “Ab Koi Bahana Nahi” or “Nayi Chetna” that engage communities in addressing gender-based violence through awareness drives and workshops. Actively involve men and boys as allies in promoting gender equality. For example, the UN Women’s HeForShe campaign has mobilized male advocates globally.
  • Promoting International Cooperation: Align domestic policies with international frameworks like the Global Digital Compact and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets on gender equality (SDG-5). Collaborate with global organizations such as UN Women to adopt best practices in combating online violence.

THE CONCLUSION:

Addressing TFGBV requires a multi-pronged approach involving legal reforms, education, technological innovation, societal change, and international collaboration. By implementing these measures holistically, India can create safer digital spaces for women while advancing its broader goals of gender equality and empowerment enshrined in Articles 14, 15(3), and 21 of the Constitution.

UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTIONS:

Q.1 What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space? 2019

Q.2 Male membership needs to be encouraged to make women’s organizations free from gender bias. Comment. 2013

Q.3 Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face in both public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer. 2017

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q.1 India’s digital transformation has opened new avenues for empowerment, yet it has also exposed women to increased risks of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Critically analyze.

SOURCE:

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-digital-frontier-of-inequality/article68989427.ece