Jammu, April 13 -- Over the past ten years, Jammu & Kashmir's digital infrastructure has grown significantly, aligning with the larger goal of Digital India. The region seems to be making steady progress toward digital inclusion, with mobile connectivity reportedly available in nearly 94% of villages. Beneath this advancement, though, is an important question: Does connectivity actually result in meaningful access?
Examining recent data makes the answer more apparent. Just 11.9% of rural households in Jammu & Kashmir shop online, compared to 32.4% of urban households. In the same way, student access is still uneven; only about 66% of students have access to the internet at home, and about 60% use smartphones for educational purposes. These...