Context: India’s digital revolution has brought rapid growth in mobile and internet connectivity but also an increase in tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).
Relevance: GS 2 (Social Justice)
Digital Growth:
- 1.18 billion mobile connections, 700 million internet users & 600 million smartphones.
Initiatives:
- ‘Ab Koi Bahana Nahi’: Campaign awareness against Gender Based Violence(GBV) under UN Women’s ‘16 Days of Activism.’
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana: 55.6% of accounts held by women, aiding rural financial inclusion.
Challenges:
- Rise in online harassment, cyberstalking, and low digital literacy among women, especially in rural areas.
Measures:
- Legal frameworks: IT Act, 2000, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2024.
- Programs: Digital Shakti for online safety, National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal for anonymous reporting.
Strategies:
- Strengthen laws, promote digital literacy, engage communities, and partner with tech companies for safety tools.
- India must balance digital growth with robust measures to address TFGBV and foster a secure digital environment for all.
