**Executive Summary**
This document provides the answer to Unstarred Question No. 747 in Lok Sabha regarding the implementation and impact of the Digital Village Pilot Project in Tamil Nadu. The project, which aimed to provide education, healthcare, skill development, solar-powered lighting, and financial inclusion services, covered 32 villages in Tamil Nadu. The Digital Village Pilot Project was successfully closed on March 31st, 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Overview:**
* The Digital Village Pilot Project aimed to provide education, health, skill development, solar lighting, financial inclusion, government-to-citizen (G2C), and business-to-citizen (B2C) services.
* The project was implemented across 700 villages nationwide at a cost of Rs. 62.58 crore.
* The project successfully closed on March 31st, 2024.
* **Implementation in Tamil Nadu:**
* A total of 32 villages were covered under the project in Tamil Nadu.
* Specific villages in Ramanathapuram, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvannamalai districts were included.
* Villages include:
* Ramanathapuram district: Vendhoni in Vendhoni Gram Panchayat, Paramakudi Block.
* Tiruvannamalai district: Vengikkal in Vengikkal Gram Panchayat, Tiruvannamalai Block.
* Kanchipuram district: Kilkathirpur in Kanchipuram Gram Panchayat, Kanchipuram Block.
* **Services Provided:**
* Education: Basic computer courses, computer concept courses, and basic IT courses.
* Additional education: Competitive exam training, CAD fundamentals.
* Healthcare: Tele-health and tele-veterinary consultations.
* Financial inclusion awareness programs.
* Solar streetlights.
* Skill development: Automotive, handset repair, home appliance, and electrical technicians.
* **Impact:**
* Enabled beneficiaries to acquire basic computer skills and accounting knowledge.
* Enhanced employability and entrepreneurship opportunities.
* Improved access to healthcare services.
* Increased awareness and adoption of affordable financial products.
* Improved public safety, enhanced mobility at night, and promoted renewable energy.
* Strengthened last-mile service delivery for rural citizens.
**Impact Analysis**
**Rural Citizens of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Improved access to education, healthcare, financial services, and government services, enhancing their quality of life and economic opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the services and training programs offered through the Digital Village initiative to improve their skills and access essential resources.
**Government (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology)**
* **Impact:** Fulfilled the objective of digitally empowering rural areas.
* **Action Required:** Evaluate the pilot project's success to inform future initiatives for digital empowerment in rural areas and potentially consider a follow-up program.
Key Entities Referenced
Digital Village Pilot Project: A government initiative to provide education, healthcare, skill development, solar-powered lighting and financial inclusion services in rural areas.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The ministry responsible for implementing the Digital Village Pilot Project.
Tamil Nadu: The Indian state where the Digital Village Pilot Project was implemented in select districts.
Ramanathapuram, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai: Districts in Tamil Nadu where the Digital Village Pilot Project was implemented.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 747
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 04.02.2026
DIGITAL VILLAGE PILOT PROJECT IN TAMIL NADU
747. SHRI NAVASKANI K:
SHRI SELVAM G:
SHRI C N ANNADURAI:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has implemented the Digital Village Pilot Project in Tamil Nadu including
villages selected from the districts of Ramanathapuram, Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai to provide
education, healthcare, skill development, solar-powered lighting and financial inclusion services;
(b) if so, the details of the villages covered, the nature of services provided and the total funds allocated,
released and utilized under the project in these districts;
(c) the details of impact of the Digital Village Pilot Project in Tamil Nadu particularly in the above
districts;
(d) whether the Government proposes to launch a similar or expanded initiative to digitally empower
rural and remote areas, especially in Ramanathapuram, Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai districts,
based on the experience of the pilot project; and
(e) if so, the details and expected timeline for implementation of such a follow-up programme?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (e): ‘Digital Village Pilot Project’ was initiated to provide education services, health services,
skill development services, solar powered streetlights and financial inclusion services along with
Government-to citizen services and business-to-citizen services in 700 villages (one village from each
district of States and Union Territories (UTs)) across the country.
A total of 32 villages were covered under the Digital Village pilot project in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The details of the villages covered under the districts of Ramanathapuram, Kanchipuram and
Tiruvannamalai in the state of Tamil Nadu are as follows:
Sr. No. District Name Sub-District / Block Gram Panchayat Village Name
1 Ramanathapuram Paramakudi Vendhoni Vendhoni
2 Tiruvannamalai Tiruvannamalai Vengikkal Vengikkal
3 Kanchipuram Kanchipuram Kanchipuram KilkathirpurThe Digital Village pilot project has been implemented at a cost of Rs. 62.58 crore on pan India basis
including the villages in these districts.
The project has been successfully closed w.e.f 31st March, 2024.
The services provided under the said project are as follows:
i. Education Services: Courses provided under this project- Basic Computer Course
(BCC), Course on Computer Concept (CCC), Tally- Kaushal Praman Patra, Basic
Course in Information Technology (BCIT).
ii. Additional Education: Competitive exam training, fundamental of CAD (Computer
Aided Design)
iii. Health Services: Tele-health and Tele-Veterinary consultation
iv. Financial inclusion awareness programme
v. Solar streetlights
vi. Skill development in (a) Automotive technician, (b) Handset repair, (c) Field
technician – Home appliance, (d) Electrical technician.
The above services have benefitted the beneficiaries in several aspects with few of them as follows:
• Various education courses offered in Digital Villages enabled beneficiaries to acquire
basic computer skills, fundamental accounting knowledge and using Tally for accounting
purposes.
• Beneficiaries trained in diverse skill sets through professional courses under the Digital
Village initiative have experienced enhanced employability opportunities and increased
scope for entrepreneurship.
• Health Services delivered in Digital Village have significantly improved access to
essential healthcare services, particularly in rural and remote areas.
• Financial Inclusion Awareness Program has improved awareness and adoption of
affordable financial products and services.
• Installation of Solar powered streetlights has contributed to improved public safety,
enhanced mobility during night hours and promotion of renewable energy usage.
• Delivery of various Government-to-Citizen (G2C) and Business-to-Citizen (B2C)
services through Digital Villages has strengthened last mile service delivery and
enhanced convenience for rural citizens.
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