**Executive Summary**
The Samriddh Gram initiative, a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) project leveraging the BharatNet infrastructure, has been nominated for the WSIS Prizes 2026 in the "Enabling Environment" category. The project establishes "Samriddhi Kendras" to provide integrated "phygital" services to rural India, including healthcare, education, and financial inclusion. Public voting for the prize is currently open and will conclude on May 3, 2026, ahead of the WSIS Forum in Geneva scheduled for July 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Initiative Overview and Recognition**
* **Global Nomination:** The Samriddh Gram initiative is a nominee for the WSIS Prizes 2026 under Action Line AL C6: Enabling Environment.
* **Infrastructure Foundation:** The project is built on BharatNet, described as the world’s largest rural broadband project, using high-speed broadband, FTTH, and public Wi-Fi.
* **Phygital Model:** It utilizes a "phygital" service delivery model, combining physical community hubs (Samriddhi Kendras) with digital platforms.
**Service Delivery and Outcomes**
* **Service Scope:** Kendras provide access to telemedicine, smart classrooms, technology-enabled agriculture, digital governance, and e-commerce.
* **Socio-Economic Impact:** Early outcomes include reduced travel time and costs for rural residents, enhanced digital literacy, and increased livelihood opportunities.
* **Sustainability:** The model is designed to be scalable and sustainable, driven by a community-based entrepreneurial framework.
**Recent Milestones and Events**
* **First Launch:** The Union Minister of Communications recently inaugurated India’s first Samriddhi Kendra at Umri Village in Guna district, Madhya Pradesh.
* **WSIS Forum 2026:** The forum will be held from July 6–10, 2026, in Geneva, focusing on digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.
**Impact Analysis**
**Rural Citizens**
**Impact**
Citizens gain seamless access to essential services (healthcare, education, and finance) directly within their communities, leading to improved digital literacy and economic empowerment.
**Action Required**
Utilize the available "phygital" services at Samriddhi Kendras and participate in the public voting process to support the initiative.
**Stakeholders, Institutions, and General Public**
**Impact**
The nomination provides global recognition for India's efforts in harnessing digital infrastructure for inclusive growth.
**Action Required**
Register on the WSIS Stocktaking Platform and cast votes for the Samriddh Gram Project under the AL C6 category before the May 3, 2026 deadline.
**Department of Telecommunications (DoT)**
**Impact**
The DoT is recognized for moving telecom infrastructure beyond simple connectivity to become a catalyst for social empowerment.
**Action Required**
Continue to drive the expansion of the Samriddhi Kendra model across diverse geographies and manage the public awareness campaign for WSIS voting.
Key Entities Referenced
Samriddh Gram Initiative: An integrated phygital service delivery model designed to harness digital infrastructure for driving inclusive growth and delivering essential services in rural India.
BharatNet: The world’s largest rural broadband project that serves as the foundational digital backbone for the Samriddh Gram initiative.
Samriddhi Kendras: One-stop community hubs established under the Samriddh Gram initiative to deliver integrated physical and digital services to rural citizens.
WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) Prizes: A global recognition platform for innovative ICT projects for which the Samriddh Gram initiative has been nominated under the Enabling Environment category.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The primary government department responsible for the implementation of the Samriddh Gram initiative and BharatNet project.
Ministry of Communications
Samriddh Gram Initiative of India Nominated for
WSIS Prizes 2026 in Enabling Environment
Category
Nomination seen as a global recognition of India’s efforts to
harness digital infrastructure for driving inclusive growth in
rural areas
Samriddh Gram Highlights Delivery of Integrated Phygital
Services to Rural India Leveraging BharatNet, World’s
Largest Rural Broadband Project
Posted On: 20 APR 2026 6:50PM by PIB Delhi
In a major global recognition of India’s efforts to harness digital infrastructure for driving inclusive
growth in rural areas, Samriddh Gram: Integrated Phygital Service Delivery Model Enabled by
BharatNet, an initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has been
selected as a nominee for the prestigious WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) Prizes
2026 under the Action Line AL C6: Enabling Environment category.
Built on the backbone of BharatNet, the Samriddh Gram initiative establishes Samriddhi Kendras as
one-stop community hubs delivering integrated “phygital” services that combine physical infrastructure
with digital platforms.
Through these Kendras, rural citizens gain seamless access to essential services across healthcare,
education, agriculture, governance, financial inclusion, and e-commerce. High-speed broadband, FTTH
connectivity, and public Wi-Fi enable transformative use cases such as telemedicine, smart classrooms,
digital governance services, and technology-enabled agriculture.
The initiative demonstrates how telecom infrastructure can move beyond connectivity to become a
catalyst for social and economic empowerment. Early outcomes indicate improved access to services,
reduced travel time and costs, enhanced digital literacy, and increased livelihood opportunities for rural
communities.
Designed as a scalable and sustainable model, the project is driven through a community-based
entrepreneurial framework, making it replicable across diverse geographies in India and beyond.
The public voting phase for WSIS Prizes 2026 is now open. Stakeholders, institutions, and citizens are
encouraged to support the project by registering on WSIS Stocktaking Platform with complete information
(organization name, type, country, and user details)and vote for the Samriddh Gram Project under AL
C6: Enabling Environment category through the link: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/stocktaking/Prizes/2
026/Vote before the last date, i.e. 03 May, 2026.Recently, Union Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated India’s First
Samriddhi Kendra under the Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Initiative at Umri Village in Guna district,
Madhya Pradesh, marking a key milestone in expanding digital service delivery in rural India.
About World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
The WSIS Forum is a globally recognized multi-stakeholder platform focused on advancing digital
development and fostering inclusive information societies. It brings together key stakeholders—including
governments, industry, academia, civil society, and international organizations—to collaborate on critical
digital issues.
The WSIS Prizes celebrate innovative ICT-driven projects that contribute to sustainable development
worldwide. The WSIS Forum 2026 is scheduled to take place from 6–10 July 2026 in Geneva, featuring
discussions on emerging technologies, digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and global digital cooperation.
Follow DoT Handles for more: -
X - https://x.com/DoT_India
Insta- https://www.instagram.com/department_of_telecom?igsh=MXUxbHFjd3llZTU0YQ==
Fb - https://www.facebook.com/DoTIndia
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@departmentoftelecom?si=DALnhYkt89U5jAaa
****
NJ/ARJ
(Release ID: 2253892) Visitor Counter : 272
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Gujarati