Odisha has now been included in the Google India’s ‘Internet Saathi’ programme for educating rural women how to use the internet.

Along with Odisha, Punjab is another new entrant in this programme, which has now

reached 2.6 lakh villages in 20 States. In Odisha, the ‘Internet Saathi’ drive will cover over 16,000 villages. As an initiative launched in 2015, this programme aims at educating women for use of the Internet.

The women, thus empowered, then impart training to other women in their communities and nearby villages.

By now, 70,000 trained Saathis are using the Internet to bring about a positive change in their communities and have already benefited over 2.6 crore fellow women.

Several women have started their own micro-businesses like stitching, honey bee farming and beauty parlour while many others are empowering their families and communities with new skills to enhance the scopes of their livelihoods.

There are also others who are driving awareness for issues like girl child education and menstrual hygiene, according to Google India’s sources.

A recent survey found that about 70 per cent of Internet Saathis believe they are seen as a source of information in their villages as people are coming to them for answers to help children with schoolwork, to learn new cooking recipes, search for jobs or to run a business.

 Eight in every 10 Saathis and their beneficiaries believe people in their villages respect them more.

Nine in 10 women beneficiaries believe in a woman’s right to express herself and earn a living for her family.

Seven in every 10 women who attended the trainings with the Saathis have seen an improvement in their children’s education.

Three in 10 Saathis and two in 10 beneficiaries have set up some forms of businesses earning up to Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 a month.