Digital Frontlines: A Knowledge Compendium 2025

2026

Edited by Dhiraj Singha

The Knowledge Compendium 2025 brings together a year’s worth of ideas, analysis, and field-based learning from Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF). This compendium aims to serve as living record of reflection and action, mapping how communities across the country continue to navigate the promises and challenges of an increasingly digital world.

How Internet is Changing Lives in Tea Gardens of Assam and North Bengal

2026

By Dhiraj Singha, Dhiman Debsarma

This endline evaluation report examines the impact of the Internet Roshni (Light) Project Phase II (2023-2024) on digital empowerment within tea garden communities across Assam and northern West Bengal, India.

Digital Just Transition: Digital Pathways for Community-centered Just Transition

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This discussion paper, Digital Just Transition: Digital Pathways for Community-centered Just Transition, was developed as part of an ongoing effort to explore the role of digital accessibility in economic diversification in Ramgarh and Bokaro.

Just Transition and Economic Diversification of Jharkhand’s Coal Heartland

2025

By Swaniti Initiative and Digital Empowerment Foundation

The year 2024 marked a crucial turning point in climate change—global mean temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time in recorded history.

At the Digital Margins – The Connectivity Status of Totopara, North Bengal

2025

By Dhiraj Singha

The baseline study by DEF examines the digital divide, socioeconomic challenges, and cultural preservation needs of the Toto tribal community in remote West Bengal.

Rural women microentrepreneurs, consumer acquisition, and value delivery: Evidence from a quasi-experiment in rural India

2025

By Aindrila Chatterjee, Amit J. Chauradia, Kiran Pedada

This study examines how recruiting rural women as microentrepreneurs in India significantly improves consumer acquisition and value delivery, highlighting the social and economic impact of gender-inclusive entrepreneurship.

SoochnaPreneurs in Consumer Acquisition and Value Creation: A Review

2025

By Dhiraj Singha

This review is based on the analyses from a three-year study of the SoochnaPreneur model, showing how engaging rural women improves service outreach, enhances value, and supports local economies through inclusive digital and financial empowerment.

“The Himalayan Digital Hurdle: What Limits Rural Pithoragarh’s Access to Digital Spaces”

2025

By Dhiraj Singha & Raina Ghosh

The report highlights digital exclusion in Uttarakhand’s Dharchula due to harsh terrain and poor infrastructure. It recommends resilient tech like satellite internet and community radio to bridge the gap.

Digital Reconnections
Reconnecting the Disconnected: A Memory-Triggering Approach to Reconnecting Homeless Individuals with their Families in India

2024

By Helena Ronald K. Liekens

Homelessness is a pressing challenge in India with millions living on the streets or temporary shelters. These homeless individuals are devoid of shelter, safety and adequate healthcare.

SoochnaPreneurs in Rural Development: The Outcomes of ‘Saksham’ Program in Tea Gardens of North Bengal”

2024

By Dhiraj Singha

Tea gardens in West Bengal (WB) have historically been subject to various forms of oversight and governance, ranging from colonial management boards to post-colonial political unions, government bodies, and development organizations.

Connected Resilience: Gendered Experiences of Meaningful Connectivity through a Global Pandemic

2024

By Neema Iyer

The Global Digital Inclusion Partnership is a coalition of public, private, and civil society organizations working to bring internet connectivity to the global majority and ensure everyone is meaningfully connected by 2030.

Resource Mobilization Through Bricolage in Social Enterprises

2024

By Aindrila Chatterjee

An academic exploration of DEF’s innovative approach as a bricolage organization, showcasing its impact and methodologies for empowering communities.

Resource Mobilization Through Bricolage in Social Enterprises

2024

By Aindrila Chatterjee

The dissertation explores how social enterprises leverage gender parity, non-traditional Ricardian rents, and caste-based dynamics to address resource constraints and enhance social impact through innovative resource use (bricolage).

Soochnapreneur: The Lifecycle of a Digital Rural Entrepreneur – Milestones and Impact

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Exploring the Technological Feasibility of the Techno-Buddy System: A Mixed-Method Approach

2024

By Wallace W. Watson

The world still faces a significant burden of tuberculosis (TB); World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates there to be more than 10 million TB cases globally (WHO, 2023).

Societal Feasibility of a Buddy System for Improving DOTS Adherence Amongst the Homeless Community in Delhi: A Mixed Method Study

2024

By Anneke C. de Vries-Egan

Description: This study aimed to understand the societal feasibility of a social support Buddy System for improving DOTS adherence amongst the homeless community in Delhi, gathering key information to assist in its co-creation.

India’s Million Missions: 75 Years of Service Toward Nation- Building

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This research was undertaken by a group of civil society members to demonstrate the immense contribution of civil society to the nation in 75 years of Independence.

Digital Innovations to Support Sustainable Agriculture Value Chains in India

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF, in partnership with T-Hub and CDPP hosted a roundtable discussion on ‘Digital Innovations to Support Sustainable Agriculture Value Chains in India’.

An Exploratory Study of Adoption and Usage of Technology by Rural Women for Entrepreneurshipp and Empowerment

2024

By Sarbani Banerjee Belur, Tuisha Sircar and Ananya Iyer

This study delves into the interplay of socio-economic, political, and cultural factors shaping the digital landscape for women and girls in rural India. This study unveils the multifaceted dynamics that influence their access to and utilisation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Krisarthak: Enabling Farmers with Financial Education & Counselling Services Digitally

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Krisarthak Financial Education and Counselling (FEC) assignment, is being implemented under APART, ARIAS Society, and supported by the World Bank.

The Everyday Violence of an Internet Shutdown: Narratives from Manipur

2023

By Osama Manzar, Jenny Sulfath, Violina Barman

The report, sheds light on the profound impact of internet shutdowns in the Indian state of Manipur. It discusses how these shutdowns disrupt various aspects of life, including communication, education, livelihoods, and access to information.

A Governance Framework for Digital Public Infrastructure: Learning from the Indian Experience

2023

By T20 Policy Brief

This brief advocates that Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) should move beyond the mentioned principles and adopt a participatory governance framework aligned with democratic values.

Connecting North Eastern Himalayas: The State of Access, Digital Connectivity, and Digital Inclusion in North Eastern Region of India

2023

By CSDD & DEF

The North East Indian States constitute 7.9% of
India’s geographical area; and as per the last census of 2011, are a 3.8% of the population.

Connecting Himalayan Communities

2023

By CSDD and DEF

Addressing internet & digital access inclusion needs of the vulnerable Himalayan communities in India, Nepal, and Bhutan in South Asia.

Perception Survey on Aadhaar-Based Service Delivery

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF conducted a survey involving 433 grassroots information entrepreneurs (SoochnaPreneurs) in India to gain insights into Aadhaar-based service delivery. The findings shed light on key challenges and advantages associated with the Aadhaar system.

Digital Green Prakriya (Processing) Fostering Digital Environmental Justice through Community Repair and Reuse Network in India – A Pilot Report

2022-2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Despite being the only South Asian country with an E-waste law in place, India is severely lagging behind in formally collecting and handling e-waste in an ecoconscious manner.

Digital Didi- Innovation to Ensure Menstrual Hygiene and Fostering Self-Learning and Entrepreneurship

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This report highlights the key findings from the baseline survey conducted for the Digital Didi Project – Innovation to Ensure Menstrual Hygiene and Fostering Self-Learning and Entrepreneurship in a total of 9 states

Amazon DFI Program for Youth: Digital Financial Inclusion for Youth – Baseline Survey Report 2022

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The report assesses digital and financial literacy among youth and women entrepreneurs across 18 states, highlighting access gaps and offering recommendations for inclusive empowerment.

Advancing Data Justice Research & Practice

2022

By Osama Manzar, Dr. Syed Kazi, Jenny Sulfath & Ananthu R A

Almost into the second quarter of the twenty first century, the widespread level of datafication in our society is very visible.

Digital Didi- Ensuring Menstrual Hygiene and Fostering Self-Learning through Community Digital HealthPreneurs

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This report highlights the key findings from the baseline survey conducted for the Digital Didi Project – Ensuring Menstrual Hygiene and Fostering Self-Learning through Community Digital Health-Preneurs in a total of 10 states

Analyzing the Role of Community Radio in Countering Misinformation at Grassroot Level

2021

By Tarun Pratap

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) in collaboration with Association for Progressive Communications (APC) in order to counter the misinformation, through its project Developing Rural Ecosystem Against Misinformation (DREAM) developed a pilot based on a hyper-local fact-checking initiative rooted in community-level interventions through Community Radio Stations (CRSs) and digital Community Information Resource Centers (dCIRCs). The project used Community Radios (CRs) as a tool to reach the larger community. This report talks about the project in detail and its impact on the ground.

Axis Bank Progress Report

2021

By Axis Bank and Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a project report of DigiSupport, an initiative of DEF and Axis Bank, aimed to empower financially excluded communities to digital access and consume financial products, services and information through rural digital interventions.

Digital Gap of Bihar and Jharkhand

2021

By Sana Alam

Sana Alam has tried to understand the impact of digital literacy programmes on the rural leadership and entrepreneurship skills especially focusing on women as to how they may be able to become the disseminating points of digital and financial literacy with ripple effects on their bargaining power on acquiring social security benefits.

Understanding Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor Atmanirbhar Nidhi Scheme Among Street Vendors of India

2021

By Anoushka Jha

Anoushka Jha, Research and Advocacy, has
written about the awareness regarding Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor Atmanirbhar Nidhi Scheme amongst the street vendor especially after the nation-wide lockdown due to pandemic cause by Covid-19.

Digital Empowerment of Tea Tribe: Towards Vulnerability Reduction and Unlocking Opportunities

2021

Dr. Syed Sultan Kazi, Ms. Ritwika Patgiri, Dr. Rajdeep Singha

This report presents about the digital inclusion of the team communities of Assam with an introduction to the vulnerability faced by them and necessary steps in terms of infrastructure and policies to include them in the digital world.

A Baseline Study on Digital Skills for Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods

2021

By Sana Alam

This is a report summarizing the findings to help in guiding the digital interventions planned to build capacities of rural artisans and weavers to improve their livelihoods by DEF and Commonwealth of Learning.

Advancing Digital, Financial Inclusion and Empowerment of the Farm Communities in Assam

2021

By Council for Social & Digital Development and Digital Empowerment Foundation

This report shares about the scope of digitization among the small and marginal farmers of Assam and presents the issues and recommendations to improve their inclusivity in the digital world.

Understanding Agriculture and ICT Practices in India

2020

By Anoushka Jha

Anoushka Jha, Research and Advocacy, has tried to understand the existing agricultural practices, agrarian finance, production, storage and distribution of agrarian produce, and their ICT usage and practices based on a survey done in 5 states with 735 people.

GOAL- Evaluation Study

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Evaluation study of DEF’s program GOAL (Going Online As Leaders) which aims to empower young women from the tribal communities to become village-level digital leaders. Launched in February 2019 it has provided digital literacy training and mentorship to 100 women between ages 17 and 26 in five states of India.

Existing Landscape of Sexual Harassment Online

2020

By Vidisha Lal and Anoushka Jha

Vidisha Lal and Anoushka Jha have written on DEF’s survey aiming to explore people’s understanding of cyber bullying, it’s effect on the survivors, the efficiency of the solutions at hand and most importantly, the changes that can be brought about to improve the efficiency of the mechanism to counter cyber bullying

The Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown in Rural India

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF conducted a survey to highlight the issues faced by the people in rural regions due to the lockdown. The survey was conducted across six states in the Hindi belt: Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Shramik Sampark Setu

2020

By Syed Kazi

One of the most affected population groups due to the COVID–19 and subsequent lockdown has been migrant workers, especially those in urban areas across the country, and those of them who returned home. Syed Kazi of DEF explores this humanitarian crisis in terms access to information, facilitation, rehabilitation.

Enhancing Livelihoods of Artisans and Weavers in Knowledge Economy

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation & Commonwealth of Learning

India has a rich and vibrant history of craft tradition and craft skills with the textile and handicrafts sector being the second largest employment generator after agriculture. In this context it becomes imperative to understand the sector analysing its different aspects. Anoushka Jha of DEF helps us to do that in terms digital intervention in the sector.

DEF – USIPI Survey Finds Food Shortage and Scare Access to Medical Care in Rural Areas

2020

By DEF and USIPI

The report tries to understand the food shortages and scarce medical supplies in rural India and how people are coping with Covid-19.

Chronology of Misinformation Report- English

2020

By Anoushka Jha & Osama Manzar

Misinformation has been posing a structural challenge to the society, it even become even more precarious during the COVID––19 pandemic. The pandemic demands scientific temperament, but that has been not the case and various misinformation become prevalent across communities. Anoushka Jha and Osama Manzar of DEF help us to understand various misinformation during the pandemic and its potential harm.

Chronology of Misinformation Report- Hindi

2020

By Osama Manzar and Anoushka Jha

Misinformation has been posing a structural challenge to the society, it even become even more precarious during the COVID––19 pandemic. The pandemic demands scientific temperament, but that has been not the case and various misinformation become prevalent across communities. Anoushka Jha and Osama Manzar of DEF help us to understand various misinformation during the pandemic and its potential harm.

DIGI POSHAN

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Project report of DEF’s important work in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. DEF aimed to provide an effort to leverage digital technologies and community platforms for improved nutrition standards in India.

Understanding Linkages Between onlien harmful Speech Practices & Offline Violent Action

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This report is a result of grant from Facebook and is based on months long digital ethnography of social media account and discusses the nature of volatile content and hate speech on social media and its linkages to the offline violence taking place in the society.

Improving Livelihoods of Rural Weavers through Digital Training

2020

By Anoushka Jha

Anoushka Jha has written the end-line report which aims to assess the impact of digital skill training provided to rural weavers during Covid-19 and the subsequent change in their incomes.

Factors Determining Access to Public Schemes Information and Entitlement Benefits for the Tea Tribe Community: A Qualitative Study in Assam

2020

By Syed S. Kazi

This report enumerates the factors under sociocultural, socioeconomic and institutional themes that determine access to public schemes information and entitlement benefits for the tea tribe community in Aassm through qualitative interviews.

Driving Online Safety and Educational Content Creation

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Ravi Guria and Pankaj Sharma of digital empowerment foundation compiled impact assessment report at the end of phase-1on driving online safety and educational content creation in the view of rising violence, regulation and potential to create far-reaching positive impact through social media.

Roti, Kapda, Makan Ya Internet ?

2020

By Anoushka Jha

Anoushka Jha, Research and Advocacy has analysed a survey conducted by Digital Empowerment Foundation wherein 16098 respondents from 4 states and 51 districts were asked to rank Roti, Kapda, Makan, Employment, Mobile and Internet in order of preference.

Endline Evaluation of Soochna Seva

2019

By Ipsos Public Affairs

The endline evaluation report of Soochna Seva is an impact analysis of the program Soochna Seva by IPSOS Research Private Limited. The endline was conducted among 200 end –beneficiaries and 24 stakeholders at the Block level and the Panchayat level.

Green Prakriya- Assessing, evaluating and mapping risks involved in the informal e-Waste sector in India

2019

By Ritu Srivastava

This case studies volume is a means of reflecting on collective experience of 14 major Indian CSOs that worked on the issue of improving last mile access to public schemes information in backward districts in India during 2014-2018, and supported by the European Union in India.

Baseline Study on Smartpur

2018

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF has written the Baseline report of SmartPur in Asoor village and 9 other villages of Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. The study identifies the status of six pillars in hub and spoke villages.

Kept in the Dark

2018

By Zothan Mawii, Ritu Srivastava, Shivani Lal and Bijo P. Abraham

The paper tries to understand the social and psycho- logical impact of network shutdowns on the lives of people. It has analysed media reports of shutdowns (till August 2017) and conducted interviews in the affected areas of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir to find the inter-link between Internet shutdowns and their impact on the socio-cultural-economic well-being of citizens.

Protecting FOAA Online with Encryption Technologies

2018

By Zothan Mawii

Zothan Mawii has written about the necessity of private and secure communications as a condition for the effective exercise of FoAA. How private and secure communications can be ensured by encryption technologies making the call for encryption crucial.

What’s Up, Rural India?

2018

By Udita Chaturvedi

‘What’s Up Rural India’ is a study of WhatsApp consumption and trend patterns in rural India carried out by Digital Empowerment Foundation

Anatomy of Virtual Curfews: Human Rights vs National Security

2017

By Ritu Srivastava

Internet shutdown has become pathological response to maintain law and order but, shutting down internet directly infringe on people’s fundamental right to receive and impart information, prevent them from contacting their loved ones during emergencies, and have an adverse impact on the economy. Ritu Srivastava puts light on early warning signs such human rights violations and state violence.

Community Networks

2017

By Ritu Srivastava

Access to connectivity is now well recognized as an enabler of socio-economic development, and can help address many of the barriers that presently exist for marginalized members of society. Ritu Srivastava of Digital Empowerment Foundation wrote experiences of India with community networks focussing regulatory, policy, spectrum, and legal challenges and how they affect Indian community networks.

Privacy in India in the Age of Big Data

2017

By Buddhadeb Halder

Buddhadeb Halder has tried to define big data in the Indian context, to further improve the understanding of big data, and help initiate public discourse around issues of privacy in the big data age.

Report: Digital Empowerment Foundation
EDGE Foundation Phase

2017

By Deepali Dharmaraj, Nataasha Southwell and Mansi Thakral

The English and Digital for Girls’ Education (EDGE) programme aims to improve the life prospects of adolescent girls in socio-economically marginalised communities in Bangladesh, India and Nepal where access to education and after-school learning is limited. The report puts light on the impact of the programme and need of educational learning such as English proficiency, digital skills and awareness of social issues in peer-led clubs.

Digiprayas- Digitisation of Villages

2017

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Project report of DEF’s project Digiprayas aiming to work with communities in 12 panchayats across five states, to help them seek modern forms of banking through the digital medium, by first familiarizing them with the digital interface, and then helping them access digital banking services.

Kaulava- Kollegal, Karnataka: Baseline Survey Report 2017

2017

By Ritu Srivastava and Vivek A.S.

Ritu Srivastava and Vivek A.S have written the baseline survey report to understand the ground situation of weavers in Kollegal.

NOFN SPOT STUDY REPORT- Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh

2016

By Raina Agarwal and Bijo P Abraham

National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) is an ambitious initiative to initiate broadband connectivity in rural India. Raina Agarwal and Bijo P Abraham help us to envisage envisaged as non-discriminatory access to network which helps to access information through the creation of a robust middle-mile infrastructure for reaching broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats.

Baseline Survey Report Nokia-DEF’s Digital Cluster Programme in Kanchipuram

2016

By Rucha Deshpande and Vivek A.S

Rucha Deshpande and Vivek A.S have written a Baseline survey report on developing a traditional skill-based cluster as an integrated digitally enabled cluster to empower artisans, weavers and entrepreneurs for socio-economic prosperity. The project is being implemented in Kancheepuram district located in Tamil Nadu.

Digikala report – Struggling to make a life

2015

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF’s report on its project Digikala in Barabanki which involves inclusive and decentralized use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in critical aspects of cluster development, especially to improve and scale up weaving skills, designs, marketing and entrepreneurship, besides creating sustainable livelihood options for youth in the clusters.

Overcoming Challenges in Weaving through Technology

2015

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This report underlines the impact of DigiKala, – a Digital Empowerment Foundation in partnership with Microsoft Corporate Citizenship collaborative initiative – which primarily involves inclusive and decentralised use of ICT in critical aspects of cluster development, especially to improve and scale up weaving skills, designs, marketing and entrepreneurship, besides creating sustainable livelihood options for youth in the clusters.

Limiting access restricting expression

2015

By Ritu Srivastava and Niki Shah

Ritu Srivastava and Niki Shah have tried to assess
the states of specific internet rights online, including freedom of expression using APC-La Rue Framework.

Study TATA-MIT Education Initiative

2014

By Shahid Ahmad and Rucha Deshpande

The TATA Trust and MIT University, USA collaborated to develop an educational program for high schools and B.Ed. colleges in three states of India using modern educational technology and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Shahid Ahmed and Rucha Deshpande after studying their initiative, highlights challenges and some moving recommendations.

ICTs and Environmental Sustainability: Mapping national policy contexts India baseline study

2011

By Syed S. Kazi & Divya Menon

DEF in partnership with Association for Progressive Communications (APC) conducted a baseline study on the ICTs and its negative impact on the environment and ecosystem. With the growth of e-waste in India, the study aimed at developing understanding around ICTs’ sustainability and a way forward for the civil societies for ICTs’ management.

Baseline Assessment Study of Digital Equalizer Program

2005

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The DE Program helps in preparing the youth to enter an information age and participate effectively in the global economy.

The New India: Information Communication Technology @ Grassroots Development

2004

By Osama Manzar with research support from Vikas Deep Verma

The report explores ICT initiatives like Akshaya and e-Choupal, highlighting their impact on rural digital literacy, e-governance, and economic empowerment. It examines successes, challenges, and sustainability in bridging the digital divide.

How Internet is Changing Lives in Tea Gardens of Assam and North Bengal

2026

By Dhiraj Singha, Dhiman Debsarma

This endline evaluation report examines the impact of the Internet Roshni (Light) Project Phase II (2023-2024) on digital empowerment within tea garden communities across Assam and northern West Bengal, India.

Digital Cluster Development Programme for GI Destinations in Tamil Nadu

2025

By Mili Dangwal

This report outlines the impact of the program empowering artisans through digital literacy, entrepreneurship, etc. It highlights how digital transformation increased visibility, improved digital skills and income for artisans, while preserving traditional GI-tagged crafts and fostering economic resilience in rural communities.

Rural Fact-Checkers for Community

2025

By Akanksha Ahluwalia

By building local fact-checking networks and boosting financial safety online, the project drives real grassroots change. With a sharp rise in digital access and safer internet use, it empowers women to lead their communities into a secure digital future. Here’s our impact report on why integrating misinformation and fighting digital wrongs is a vital step toward closing India’s rural digital divide.

Building Communities for Rights to Access & Access to Rights

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

In the coming year, the Community Networks Xchange will aim at achieving larger goals by building in participation from policy makers in addition to the existing multi stakeholder partnership.

Pathways to Inclusion: Advancing Civil Society’s Role in AI Governance – Evidence from and for the Global Majority

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Globethics’ latest policy brief, launched during the Global Ethics Forum 2025 in Geneva, cites and recognises the work of Digital Empowerment Foundation’s Just AI: Data & Algorithms for Communities initiative as a critical pillar, strengthening the voice of CSOs, communities and the global majority in AI Governance.

SoochnaPreneurs in Rural Development: The Outcomes of ‘Saksham’ Program in Tea Gardens of North Bengal”

2024

By Dhiraj Singha

Tea gardens in West Bengal (WB) have historically been subject to various forms of oversight and governance, ranging from colonial management boards to post-colonial political unions, government bodies, and development organizations.

I Made Pickle on my Periods,
and it Didn’t go Stale

2024

By Jenny

Rural India has been increasingly falling victim to the pervasive misinformation disinformation campaigns and influence operations that target people who do not have the skills to fact-check accurately. While several initiatives in India fact-check and expose these coordinated misinformation campaigns, the programs’ beneficiaries remain an educated urban population.

ICT for Empowering Accessibility/Inclusion: The Impact of Digital Integration on the Lives of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)

2024

By Osama Manzar, Arpita Kanjilal

This report, a collaborative effort between Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and Broadband India Forum (BIF), documents the transformative role of ICTs and digital integration on over 300 PwDs. It highlights the need for large-scale policy interventions to ensure meaningful connectivity and assesses ICTs’ impact on PwDs’ wellbeing and socio-economic standing in society.

Digital Cluster
Development Programme for Geographical Indication (GI) Destinations, Tamil Nadu

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The baseline study report on – “The Digital Cluster Development Programme for Geographical Indication (GI) destinations in Tamil Nadu ” is based on the Digital Empowerment Foundation’s work with grant support from futuremakers by Standard Chartered.

Algorithms, AI and Accountability

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Citizen Summit is a global multistakeholder platform initiated by Digital Empowerment Foundation to discuss and deliberate on digital rights and citizenship to advocate for accessible, affordable, and meaningful Internet.

Multiple Vulernabilities of Adivasis and Plantation Workers in Assam and West Bengal

2024

By Suruchi Kumari, Trisha Mukhopadhyay

The report “Multiple Vulnerabilities of Adivasis and Tea Plantation Workers in Assam and West Bengal: An Analysis of Socio-economic and Digital Milieux” is based on the Digital Empowerment Foundation’s work with the grant support from the Internet Society Foundation.

Safeguarding Rural India Through Critical Digital Literacy – Project Report

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The report highlights the empowerment of 480 rural women with digital skills to combat misinformation and provide essential digital services. It also documents the setup of local centers to enhance access to technology and government schemes in remote areas.

Let’s GI Mela Report

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Let’s GI Mela was organised by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) in collaboration with Futuremakers by Standard Chartered Bank on 9 October 2024, at the Standard Chartered Bank Campus, Chennai. This event was part of the ongoing DIGI (Digital Cluster Development Programme for Geographical Indication Destinations) initiative. Here’s a report highlighting the events of the Mela.

Safeguarding Rural India Through Critical Digital Literacy

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This report draws from the endline study, “Safeguarding Rural India Through Critical Digital Literacy,” which assesses the impact of the Digital Empowerment Foundation’s initiative, supported by grants from HP and the Aspen Institute. It highlights the shift in women’s participation within the digital ecosystem following their training in functional digital literacy, digital financial literacy, access to citizen entitlements, and critical digital literacy.

Krisarthak: Financial Education and Counselling (FEC) of Farmers in Assam

2023

By DEF, FCF, CSDD, and IIBM

Krisarthak is an innovative program focused on providing financial education and counseling to farmers in Assam, India. As part of the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) and supported by the World Bank, the pilot implementation report evaluates the effectiveness of this initiative in empowering farmers with essential financial knowledge to improve their agricultural practices and overall financial well-being.

Digital Empowerment of Tea Tribe & Adivasis in Assam

2023

By DEF and CSDD

The Tea Tribe & Adivasi community in Assam comprises approximately 7 million people, accounting for nearly 20% of the state’s population. However, the younger generation faces obstacles in obtaining quality education, livelihoods, and opportunities. Furthermore, the community struggles with social, cultural, and economic identity challenges, making their integration with mainstream communities and institutions a distant aspiration.

Empowering Persons with Disabilities through Digital

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

With the support of EquallyAble Foundation, DEF empowered 500 disabled individuals across 7 states in India as sustainable village-level entrepreneurs, providing digital literacy training, tablets, and printers to offer various services to the community, fostering independence and dignity.

Transforming Education for the Digital Age: A Comprehensive Report on STEM Learning through Digital Academy

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

EquallyAble Digital Academy, implemented by DEF and EquallyAble Foundation, empowers communities for digitalization through STEM education. It prioritizes inclusivity, integrating women and Persons with Disabilities, and fosters a digitally integrated ecosystem to promote equity and higher education for a successful professional future.

Soochna Adhikar Kendra Progress Report

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The ‘Soochna Adhikar Kendra’ program aims to empower rural women and youth by offering livelihood opportunities, skill development, and employability in the information economy, while also providing cost-effective public and private information services to rural clients.

Digital Injot (Light): Tea Tribe & Adivasi Community Empowerment in Assam (India) in a Digital Age

2023

By CSDD

The Tea Tribe & Adivasi community residing in the tea gardens constitute 20% of Assam’s population in India. They have been brought to Assam during the colonial rule. Today, the community produces 53% of India’s total tea production and is the country’s second-largest tea-producing state.

ICT Enabled Rural Women Entrepreneurship Development in Assam and West Bengal: Challenges, Scope and Opportunities

2023

By DEF and CSDD

It seeks to increase Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLPFR) by building a sustainable entrepreneurship environment for rural women from Assam and West Bengal to thrive and succeed in existing and new Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that are inclusive, technology-enabled, and environmentally sustainable.

Project Update: Samarth SoochnaPreneur & Digital Academy

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Excellence Report

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DLC Annual Report

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Project Interim Report- Chirala
Fishing Community Project

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Skilling of Migrant Workers in India

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

From Commitment to Excellence- A narrative of two decades of digital journey

2022

By International Research Visitor

COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This report details the Program Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) initiative, which promoted COVID-appropriate and sensitive behaviors across 885 locations in 18 states.

The Digital Efficacy Of Women Micro And Nano Entrepreneurs Across India

2021

By Anoushka Jha

Anoushka Jha in this report has attempted to understand the current patterns of usage of digital tools amongst women entrepreneurs, their familiarity with financial tool and overall financial literacy, their existing business strategy and lastly their economic situation post lockdown.

Barefoot Wireless Engineers: Using Human Networks to Grow The Internet

2021

By Internet Society

An idea expands from a single community to a web of engineers, connecting thousands to opportunities

Soochna Seva- Final Narrative Report

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a report of the Soochna Seva project which was active between 2014-18 which presents detailed narration about the activities, involved teams and partners.

STEM FOR GIRLS

2021

Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a report about the initiative aimed to improve education and career pathways for girls in schools and shares about the activities, testimonials, engagement and impact of the project that took place between 2019-21.

COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Stigma & Discrimination Communication Campaign

2021

An initiative of COVID-19 response

Samarth SoochnaPreneur

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a narrative report, 2020-21, of the Samarth SoochnaPreneur project in collaboration with Equally Able aimed at empowering the disabled population of rural India in enhancing their livelihoods.

Community Radio in India: Unsung Heroes in the time of Covid-19

2021

By Ritu Srivastava

Community radios in India, with their presence in the media landscape for over 15 years, have indeed come of age.

Samarth Goal Project Report

2021

Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a report of Samarth GOAL project which was a digital skilling and mentorship initiative that seeks to identify and mobilise 10 renowned people from differently able populations, who are working for the betterment of people with disability.

Community Networks: Documenting and Celebrating Wireless Barefoot Engineers

2021

By Asheef Iqubbal

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) has been working on digital access, governance and information poverty by instrumentalising Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for decades now.

A Report on Digital Literacy and Vocational Program for the Youth of Budgam District, J&K

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) continuing its mission to bring digital inclusion a reality, together with School for Rural Development & Environment (SRDE, as a local parter), started a digital literacy center at Arizal village in Budgam district, Jammu & Kashmir.

Success Stories from Digital Sarthak

2021

By Sujith Ail

Digital Sarthak is a national digital entrepreneurship and empowerment programme of Digital Empowerment Foundation supported by USAID and DAI and this paper
has documented some success stories

SMARTPHONES & DIGITAL SCRIPTS: Overcoming Literacy Barriers

2020

By Osama Manzar and Kriti Singh

The report has used case studies to highlight that a people using smartphone and digital technologies defy the traditional definition of calling them illiterate as they are able to operate digital tools with efficiency.

Between Rights And Risks: Life And Liberty In An Internet Dark Kashmir

2020

By Safwat Zargar

Safwat Zargar, a Srinagar based independent journalist, reports how longest Internet shutdown in Kashmir has impacted various realms of lives of people living in Jammu and Kashmir.

Digital Skilling of Rural Women Entrepreneurs in the time of COVID 19

2020

By Tarun Pratap

Tarun Pratap in this report has written on the impact of digital skill building training on the rural women entrepreneurs.

Understanding Institutional AI: Sectoral Case Studies From India

2020

By Anulekha Nandi

Anulekha Nandi has written the report aiming to form
the foundation for DEF’s sectoral deep dives and empirical social research in this area in contributing towards gap analysis, rights-based implications of automated decision-making systems, and working to mainstream a business and human rights framework within policy – making around emerging technologies.

DEF’s Covid-19 Relief initiatives as a Digitally-Enabled Humanitarian Organisation

2020

By Kriti Singh

This report summaries the work done by DEF during the first wave of pandemic by implementing the Digital Emergency Relief Programme in 89 underserved districts located in 20 states of India.

Precarious Labour, Economic Inequality and Inadequate Social Protection in India

2020

By Asheef Iqubbal and Anoushka Jha

Asheef Iqubbal and Anoushka Jha have written this article which is a product of relief services provided by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) near the KMP Highway and the conversations that the staff had with migrant workers passing by. The aim of this article has been to understand the precarity that circumscribed the lives of this labour force and how progressive policy-making should include greater legal safeguards for this section of the population.

Building Participatory Institutions for Public Service Delivery through Access to Information in Rural India

2019

By Anulekha Nandi

Anulekha Nandi in this paper has discussed the strategies to overcome barriers of access to social protection using lessons from DEF’ s integrated access to information and micro-social entrepreneurship programmes.

Social Media in a Networked World

2019

By Osama Manzar and Udita Chaturvedi

Osama Manzar and Udita Chaturvedi have written about the need and benefits of adoptions of digital tools by civil society organizations which will improve their visibility and efficiency.

A Last Mile Access to Information Initiative

2019

By Aparna Priyadarshi

This report primarily has tried to assess the extent of gender inclusion in welfare scheme service delivery by SoochnaPreneurs and the demand for varying types of welfare schemes by women in particular.

Digital Citizen Summit -2019

2019

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The DCS 2019 report presents in a comprehensive manner the details of the event that built on the issue of (mis)information in India.

Chanderiyaan: Weaving Digital Empowerment into the Indian Handloom Industry

2018

By Bishakha Majumdar, Sriparna Basu and Shilpi Jain

Bishakha Majumdar, Shilpi Jain and Sriparna Basu of FORE School of Management traced DEF’s history and digital interventions like Chanderiyaan and how such interventions have been proven instrumental in transforming Handloom industry.

Digitalisation Cost benefit analysis of digitisation interventions in Andhra Pradesh

2018

By Ritu Srivastava and Eshita Mukherjee

DEF in this paper evaluates the costs and benefits derived from connecting the unconnected GPs through Non-Optical Fibre Network and Connecting rural households to Broadband using the Non-Optical Fibre Network infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh

Benefits and costs of digitisation interventions in Rajasthan

2018

By Ritu Srivastava and Eshita Mukherjee

DEF in this paper evaluates the costs and benefits derivedfrom connecting the unconnected GPs through Non-Optical Fibre Network and Connecting rural households to Broadband using the Non-Optical Fibre Network infrastructure in Rajasthan.

Internet Saathi Performance Report 2018

2018

By Balram Keshari, Irfan Khan, Saili Saha and Sharada Kerkar

Balram Keshari, Irfan Khan, Saili Saha and Sharada Kerkar have assessed the Internet Saathi programme, the aim of which was to train rural women to provide digital and Internet literacy in two states – Bihar and Madhya Pardesh in the year 2017.

Information Disorders: Disrupting Digital Citizenship Event Report 2018

2018

By Anulekha Nandi

DEF and the Internet Society (ISOC) organized the third Digital Citizen Summit from 1-2 November 2018 at India International Centre in New Delhi with the support from Mozilla and UNESCO. With the objective to find a solution to bridge the digital divide, find ways to extending access to information for the underserved, and create a platform for youth, women and social media enthusiasts to raiseawareness about internet rights, digital literacy, and digital security.

Community Network Exchange Report 2018

2018

By Udita Chaturvedi

The Community Network Exchange of 2018 focussed on identifying synergies between community networks and community radios in promoting public Wi-Fi access in Asia Pacific countries, this report documents the events, learnings shared knowledge produced.

Digital Safarnama

2017

By Sharada Kerkar

This is a personalised note about various trainings that were conducted by DEF for tribal youth across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

SAFA Network- Internet Access for urban poor living in Bhola Nagar Slum, Hyderabad

2017

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF deployed its W4C initiative in Hyderabad’s Bhola Nagar via SAFA organisation and provided digital literacy to women in order to improve their livelihood.

Digital WOMEN of Rural India

2016-17

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

It is a documentation of rural women and how digital literacy changed their lives.

Digitally Enabled Report- 2016

2016

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a five-part video series highlighting the role of the Internet and technology in people’s daily lives that aims to bridge the knowledge gap between policymakers and end users. The series is produced by the Alumni of US Government sponsored Exchange Programs in collaboration with Digital Empowerment Foundation and the US Mission to India.

Barefoot & Connected: Socio-behavioural impact of wireless broadband & digital intervention in a village campus

2016

By Udita Chaturvedi

DEF has analysed how the people of Tilonia are using the wireless Internet connection at Barefoot College.

No Profit High Impact report

2015-16

By Arjun Sen

It is a report of 2015 4th e-NGO awards of Indian and International level civil society organisations documenting the digital impact they have been instrumental in disseminating.

Communities, Engagement, Libraries – A collection of case stories from across India

2015

By Dr. Syed S Kazi and Dr. Neena Jha

Dr. Neena Jha and Syed Kazi have complied and analysed the public libraries spanning across India as a public and democratic space within community landscape.

Transforming Public Libraries – Stories of Reinvigorating Reading Spaces

2015

By Dr. Syed S Kazi and Dr. Neena Jha

The brochure presents case studies of public libraries projecting how libraries have the potential to become central places for learning, innovation, and community gathering.

Post event report- Social Impact award 2015

2015

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

It is a report of the North East Social Impact Awards 2015 which aims at identifying, recognising and documenting the initiatives by youth led organisations, NGOs, civil society organisations in North East India Region.

Connecting remote communities

2014

By Arjun Sen

Arjun Sen writes this report on how Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and the Internet Society (ISOC) jointly launched the Wireless for Communities (W4C) initiative in October 2010, which involves deploying line-of-sight wireless technology and low-cost WiFi equipment which utilise the unlicensed 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz spectrum bands to create community-owned and operated wireless networks.

Wireless- A case book for communities

2013

By Ritu Srivastava

DEF along with Ford Foundation throws light on on Technical and Policy Consultation focusing on empowering rural communities of India through unlicensed (free) spectrum.

Mobile Phones in India: Mapping across the Formal/Informal Divide

2013

By Anne Stevens

Anne Stevens for Digital Empowerment Foundation
analysed the landscape of mobiles in India and mapping the formal and informal divide.

NGOs empowered- Stories of NGOs of using ICTs for Impact

2012

By Osama Manzar and Devendra Singh Bhadauria

Osama Manzar & Devendra Singh Bhadauria complied a
set of stories of NGOs that have utilised ICT for greater impact on society.

A case study on Digital Empowerment Foundation’s Chanderiyaan Project

2012

By Ramendra Singh and Pratik Modi

Ramendra Singh of IIM (Calcutta) and Pratik Modi of IRM (Anand) conducted a case study on DEF’s flagship programme – Chanderiyaan.

Digital Frontlines: A Knowledge Compendium 2025

2026

Edited by Dhiraj Singha

The Knowledge Compendium 2025 brings together a year’s worth of ideas, analysis, and field-based learning from Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF). This compendium aims to serve as living record of reflection and action, mapping how communities across the country continue to navigate the promises and challenges of an increasingly digital world.

Inclusive ICT Workshop for Girls with Disabilities

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

On 10 July 2025, over 200 girls with disabilities joined the Inclusive ICT Workshop in Kathmandu and Pokhara. This is a consolidated report on the workshop and Digital Empowerment Foundation’s session focused on digital skills, assistive tech, and online safety. It also includes key learnings, reflections and the intersections of digital disability inclusion.

World Summit Awards(WSA) Global Congress 2025 Report

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The report captures the energy and impact of the four-day event (6–9 April) in Hyderabad. It spotlights groundbreaking digital innovations, dynamic sessions, and meaningful collaborations tackling global challenges through the local solutions reflecting on themes of inclusion, creativity, and the evolving future of digital development.

Digital Artisans of India Award 2025 Report

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

2025

This report captures how India’s artisan communities are navigating the digital era. Bringing together voices from across craft clusters, the report highlights storytelling, digital tools, and fair markets as pathways to dignity, livelihood security, and the preservation of generational cultural knowledge in a rapidly changing economy.

Talking the Walk

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The report Talking the Walk: Youth, Women, and Unconnected from Rural India highlights grassroots digital transformation efforts in India, emphasizing the role of youth and women in bridging the digital divide. Organized by the Digital Empowerment Foundation and the United Nations in India, it endorses the Global Digital Compact (GDC) to promote inclusive digital policies and community-driven solutions.

Data Protection for Persons with Disabilities: Gaps, Challenges, and the Way Forward

2025

By DEF, CDPP & BIF

India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023) raises concerns for persons with disabilities by requiring guardian consent, which undermines their autonomy. This policy brief highlights the urgent need for reforms to uphold the rights of the PwD community and ensure inclusive, rights-based digital participation.

DEF at RightsCon 2025

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Here’s a consolidated report of DEF’s participation at RightsCon 2025 held in February, in Taipei. The report has details of the sessions attended, the outcomes and DEF’s participation as panelists.

Inputs for the Discussion towards AI
Safety Institute’s Stakeholder Consultation

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Government of India has announced its IndiaAI mission with a cabinet approval and an overall allocation of Rs. 10,371.92 Crores and a budget allocation of Rs. 551.75 Crores for the FY 2024-25.

Policy Brief: ICT for Empowering Accessibility/Inclusion: The Impact of Digital Integration on the Lives of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This policy brief examines how digital integration impacts PwDs, highlighting ICTs’ role in their personal and socio-economic growth, societal attitude shifts, and digital empowerment, addressing access challenges.

Dance of Democracy- Digital Narrative of Indian Election

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This Chapter of TypeRight has tried to track the digital narrative of the grand Indian Lok Sabha election vis-a-vis use of social media, campaign and
propaganda of political parties through digital media and how the Indian digital consumers being targeted through medium and the messages.

Submission to the ‘Global Digital Compact’

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Policy on Digital Environmental Sustainability

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This policy document on “Digital Environmental Sustainability” outlines DEF’s unwavering commitment to mitigating the environmental footprint of digital technologies.

Community Assessment on Internet Shutdowns in India

2022

By Tuisha Sircar

‘Brief of CSO Partners’ Consultation For ‘EU ROADMAP FOR CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT IN INDIA (2022-2027)’

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation and Council for Social and Digital Development

Amazon DFI Program for Youth: Digital Financial Inclusion for Youth – Baseline Survey Report 2022

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The report assesses digital and financial literacy among youth and women entrepreneurs across 18 states, highlighting access gaps and offering recommendations for inclusive empowerment.

Understanding the Role and Potential of M-Health during Covid-19 Crisis in India- Part 1

2021

By Vidisha Lal

Digital Empowerment Foundation has written a 5-part series on critically understanding the role and potential of m-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Understanding the Role and Potential of M-Health during Covid-19 Crisis in India- Part 2

2021

By Vidisha Lal

Digital Empowerment Foundation has written a 5-part series on critically understanding the role and potential of m-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Understanding the Role and Potential of M-Health during Covid-19 Crisis in India- Part 3

2021

By Vidisha Lal

Digital Empowerment Foundation has written a 5-part series on critically understanding the role and potential of m-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Understanding the Role and Potential of M-Health during Covid-19 Crisis in India- Part 4

2021

By Vidisha Lal

Digital Empowerment Foundation has written a 5-part series on critically understanding the role and potential of m-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Understanding the Role and Potential of M-Health during Covid-19 Crisis in India- Part 5

2021

By Vidisha Lal

Digital Empowerment Foundation has written a 5-part series on critically understanding the role and potential of m-health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reclaiming The Narrative: What Farmer Protests and Trolley Times Tell Us About The Media’s Systemic Failure

2021

By Asheef Iqubbal

Asheef Iqubbal has written on the birth of the Trolley Times, a biweekly, community run newspaper initiated by farmers in order to reclaim their discourse.

Food Delivery Workers in India: Emerging Entrepreneurs or Informal Labour?

2021

By Asheef Iqubbal

Asheef Iqubbal in this article has analysed the situation of food delivery workers in India, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

PM Wani: The PCO model of public wi-fi stands to fulfill long pipe dream

2021

By Tarun Pratap

Tarun Pratap writes on the how the continuous advocacy efforts of DEF that resulted in developing PM Wani which is a PCO model of providing access to public wi-fi

Bridging the Digital Divide for girls in India

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3), in association with Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), embarked on a primary survey to understand the yawning digital gap that India’s adolescent girls are faced with, at a time when the country itself is undergoing a heightened interest in and demand for a digital transformation in economy and society.

APC and DEF submission to the ITU Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet)

2021

By Association for Progressive Communications and Digital Empowerment Foundation

Draft Policy Paper and Action Plan on Circular Economy in Electronics and Electrical Sectorin India

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Empowerment Foundation organized a panel discussion based on a policy paper and action plan publishedby Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) on the issue of e-waste. This document outlines the entire panel discussion.

COWIN- An Exclusionary Vaccination Process By Design?

2021

By Sana Alam and Asheef Iqubaal

This report critically evaluates the Cowin portal and its role in facilitating in vaccination against Covid-19. How the portal itself when created and used becomes exclusionary for a vast majority.

The Second Wave of Covid-19 Misinformation

2021

By Tarun Pratap and Anoushka Jha

The saga of misinformation and fake news didn’t stop spreading, rather the second wave saw a different kind misinformation being peddle across platforms. The research paper has analysed various mis/disinformation prevalent during the second wave of Covid-19.

The New IT Guidelines- Privacy censored

2021

By Tarun Pratap and Sana Alam

Tarun Pratap and Sana Alam have critically analysed Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules 2021

FAQs/Dummies Guide on Information Technology

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Tarun Pratap has created a FAQ or a dummies guide on Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Digital Empowerment and Indian Handlooms: Case-based Policy Recommendations

2021

By Bishakha Majumdar, Sriparna Basu, Shilpi Jain

This paper provides a policy framework for the digital empowerment of handloom workers and the digital transformation of the handloom trade. It draws upon the Digital Cluster Development Programme (DCDP) of Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) in three handloom clusters in India

GLOBAL INFORMATION SOCIETY WATCH 2020

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Anoushka Jha contributed a country report on behalf of DEF. The paper talks about the rise in e-waste and the urgent need to recycle the same and contextualises the role of informal sector waste workers in this process of recycling and policy framework.

Protests in the times of social media: A case of farmer’s agitation

2021

By Sana Alam and Asheef Iqubbal

The essay written by Sana Alam and Asheef Iqubbal attempts to explore the role of social media in terms of the mobilisation of protestors, tackling dis/misinformation campaigns, propaganda and the facilitation of the entire against new farm laws.

Why Millions Cannot Claim Emergency Food Rations

2020

By Asheef Iqubbal

Asheef Iqubbal has written on exclusion of people from public distribution system due to technical constraints such as Ration and Aadhar card.

Lockdown Leaves Handloom Weavers Hanging by a Thread

2020

By Asheef Iqubbal

Asheef Iqubbal in this article has written on the situation of handloom weavers and their access to social protection during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 Lockdown Leaves Delhi Migrant Workers With Neither Jobs Nor Social Security; Experts Blame Political Apathy, Lack of Legal Protection

2020

By Asheef Iqubbal

This report highlights the precarity of workers during the pandemic as scores of migrant workers were forced to leave cities and head towards towns, with no food, transport and social security net.

Response to the Consultation on Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) Services/Internet Services and net Neutrality

2019

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is DEF’s publication presents the organisation’s response to the Consultation on Regulatory Framework for Over-the-top (OTT) Services/ Internet Services and Net Neutrality.

Submission of Comments on DIPP’s Draft E-Commerce Policy

2019

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted comments/ suggestionson the draft National E-Commerce Policy 2019

Submission to the United Nation’s High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation

2019

By Anulekha Nandi

The report provides an insight into the comments Submitted to the United Nation’s High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation.

Submission of Comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Proliferation of Broadband through Public WI-FI Networks

2018

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted comments on the Consultation Paper on Proliferation of Broadband through Public Wi-Fi Networks.

Submission of Comments on MEITY’s draft Information Technology [Intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules], 2018

2018

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted comments/suggestions on the draft Information Technology [Intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules] 2018.

Building Sustainable Wireless Community Networks: Experiences from India

2017

By Ritu Srivastava

Ritu Srivasatva has written on Wireless for Communities program of DEF and how this program aims to provide affordable, ubiquitous and democratically controlled internet access in rural regions of the country.

Understanding the lack of privacy in the Indian Cultural Context

2017

By Osama Manzar and Udita Chaturvedi

This report tries to explore what does privacy mean in the Indian cultural and behavioural context and has been written by Osama Manzar and Udita Chaturvedi.

Comments on National Policy of Women 2016

2016

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted counter-comments on the draft National Policy for Women 2016.

Submission of Counter-Comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services

2016

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Osama Manzar on behalf of DEF submitted its comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services.

Submission of Counter-Comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services

2016

By Ritu Srivastava and Rajat Kumar

The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted counter-comments on the Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services.

Exclusion from Digital Infrastructure and Access

2016

By Eshita Mukherjee, Osama Mazar, Raina Aggarwal and Rajat Kumar

Eshita Mukherjee; Osama Mazar; Raina Aggarwal; and Rajat Kumar have written for India Exclusion Report (IXR) 2016. They have defined digital inclusion as a “wagon to social inclusion that ensures individuals and disadvantaged groups have access to Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the skills to use them to be able to participate in and benefit from an increasingly electronically mediated knowledge economy and information society”.

Submission of Counter Comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Free Data

2015

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) submitted counter-comments on the Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services.

Case Studies on e-Governance in India

2014

By Osama Manzar

This case study explains how the Goa government used technology to make prisons more organised, transparent, and easier to manage by replacing paperwork with a digital system that tracks prisoners, visits, punishments, and releases.

Shrinking Spaces- Status of Freedom of Association & Assembly in India

By Ritu Srivastava

Buddhadeb Halder of DEF in this paper has explored the issue of privacy in the present big data age, and how big data gathered through ICT tools and social media platforms can be used against citizen.

Inside the Invisible E-waste Economy of Delhi’s Seelampur

2026

By Alfiya Azeem Khan, Raina Ghosh

Explores Delhi’s Seelampur e-waste hub, uncovering the informal recycling economy, livelihoods built on discarded electronics, environmental and health risks, and how digital consumption connects to invisible labour networks managing the country’s electronic waste.

Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2018: What Happens off the Runway

2026

By Rujuta Vaidya

Goes beyond the runway at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2018, spotlighting street style, sustainability dialogues, artisan collaborations, and cultural showcases that shape the fashion ecosystem behind the scenes.

Tackling Menstrual Misinformation and Period Poverty in Rural India

2025

By Akanksha Ahluwalia

DEF’s Digital Didi project reached over 6,000 women and girls in 350 villages across 10 states to create awareness about misconceptions surrounding menstruation through digital tools and community-led programmes.

Why Most Countries are Struggling to Shutdown 2G

2025

By LAM LE

This article examines why many countries face challenges in shutting down 2G networks, highlighting affordability gaps, digital literacy barriers, and the risk of excluding millions who still depend on basic mobile connectivity.

The Voice of Fashion – The Arrival of the Digitally Empowered Artisan

2025

By Shefalee Vasudev

The second edition of the Digital Artisans of India Awards by the Digital Empowerment Foundation highlights artisans leveraging digital tools to expand markets and visibility. Blending tradition with technology, the initiative strengthens livelihoods and advances greater parity within India’s evolving craft and fashion economy.

Weather Forecasting Improves but Access Remains Uneven for Farmers

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This article examines how improved forecasting by the India Meteorological Department has not fully translated into equitable access for farmers. Despite better accuracy and new digital tools, gaps in hyperlocal data, digital literacy and last-mile delivery continue to limit farmers’ ability to respond to climate risks.

A Leadership Series Interview ft. Osama Manzar

2025

By Simit Bhagat Studios

A leadership interview in which Osama Manzar reflects on resilience, purpose, and building sustainable social impact through community-led digital empowerment.

Landscapes of Creative – Producers of India

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

“Landscape of Creative Producers in India” is a visual data report that maps the vast scale of India’s 200 million artisans and 30 million MSMEs while exposing the stark “meaningful access” gaps in digital connectivity, formal finance, and rural infrastructure.

Delhi’s Unregulated E-Waste Markets and the Marginalised Women Workers Who Bear Its Cost

2025

By Raina Ghosh & Alfiya Azeem Khan

Documents exploitative gendered labor conditions and health harms in informal e-waste recycling hubs.

Artificial Intelligence: Meet Indian Loom Artisans

2025

By Manisha Aryal

This document captures how technology meets tradition, enabling Indian handloom artisans to showcase their creations to wider audiences through AI-driven innovation.

Case Study: Digital Literacy Partnership

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This case study examines collaborative efforts between civil society, government, and media organisations to advance digital and media literacy among underserved communities.

Scammers Target Rural Indians Navigating Digital Welfare System

2025

By Kunal Purohit

As rural Indians increasingly depend on digital systems to access welfare benefits, cyber scammers are exploiting biometric authentication and scheme applications. Rising smartphone use and limited digital literacy have made many vulnerable, highlighting the urgent need for stronger awareness, safeguards, and secure access to public services.

Does the Number of ICT Users Indicate Digital Adoption?

2025

By Osama Manzar & Arpita Kanjilal

Argues that digital user numbers alone cannot measure meaningful inclusion and emphasizes the need to bridge deeper structural divides.

Clicking Through Barriers, Empowering Persons with Disabilities

2025

By Arpita Kanjilal & Mira Swaminathan

Examines barriers preventing PwDs from participating fully in the digital ecosystem and advocates inclusive policy design.

Becoming Digital Citizens

2025

By Osama Manzar & Arpita Kanjilal

Explores India’s growing digital disparity and calls for community-centered digital public systems accessible to every citizen.

Death by Data: The Human Cost of Digital Governance

2025

By Osama Manzar & Arpita Kanjilal

Explores how digital-only governance systems cause exclusion, denial of welfare and life-threatening consequences for those without digital access.

From 2G to 5G: Is India Moving Forward or Leaving People Behind?

2025

By Osama Manzar & Arpita Kanjilal

Warns that rapid 5G rollout widens inequality as millions remain stuck on slow and unaffordable connectivity.

Freedoms for Tomorrow: Enabling Universal Meaningful Access for an Inclusive Nation by 2047

2025

By Dr. Raina Ghosh & Osama Manzar

Outlines a roadmap toward equitable digital access and capacity building leading up to India@2047.

Language, Politics, Power: What is AI’s Mother Tongue?

2025

By Raina Ghosh

Examines how AI-driven language systems reinforce linguistic elitism and privilege, policing expression and marginalizing diverse voices through algorithmic bias.

Just Transition for Coal Miners – A Researcher’s Perspective

2025

By Maitri Singh

Examines vulnerabilities faced by coal-dependent workers during India’s energy transition and calls for worker-centered policy frameworks.

How Technology Discriminates Against Handloom Workers

2025

By Osama Manzar

Argues that digital ecosystems fail to include traditional weaving communities and calls for infrastructure that empowers artisans instead of replacing them.

GI in the Age of AI: How Technology Empowers Indian Artisans Working with GI-Tagged Art

2025

By Mili Dangwal

Shows how AI and digital tools support artisans in preserving cultural heritage, expanding market access, and sustaining livelihoods through digital enablement.

Tackling Menstrual Misinformation and Period Poverty in Rural India

2025

By Akanksha Ahluwalia

Documents the Digital Didi initiative, which addresses period stigma and misinformation in rural communities through digital literacy and community-based training.

Optimized, but Dehumanized: AI is Costing Us More Than Just Empathy

2025

By Arpita Kanjilal

Critiques how AI systems prioritize efficiency over human connection and disproportionately harm marginalized communities.

The Voice of Fashion

2025

By Osama Manzar

Examines how India’s handloom artisans can be reframed as digital-age knowledge workers empowered through public infrastructure and smart cluster development.

Nigeria: startup economy, dynamic evolution—digital policies need to be more of an equalizer

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Explores the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy, driven by fintech and mobile technologies, and the need for inclusive digital policies.

New Zealand: gearing up for the AI economy—needs for a stronger learning culture

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Examines New Zealand’s evolving AI-driven economy and emphasizes the importance of digital learning culture and robust data protection.

Nepal: digital and social developments—the challenge of impact ventures

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Reflects on Nepal’s expanding digital sectors across fintech, agriculture and health-tech, and the challenges facing impact ventures and government service integration.

Luxembourg: social innovation to secure a digital future for citizens

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Explores Luxembourg’s digital ecosystem, social innovation initiatives and strategies for strengthening media literacy and citizen-centered governance.

Kazakhstan: moving towards a more inclusive and equitable digital future

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Examines Kazakhstan’s digital growth in e-commerce and mobile technologies, addressing barriers to regulation, accessibility and equity.

Iraq: Mesopotamia reconnected—emerging tech and conflicts shaping the digital evolution

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Explores Iraq’s developing digital infrastructure amid political and economic challenges and the role of technology in financial empowerment and education.

Indonesia: a complex democracy evolving—driven by e-commerce and social media, facing skill gaps and digital divides

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Reflects on Indonesia’s expanding digital marketplace and social impact innovations while identifying regulatory, literacy and inclusion barriers.

India: surge in technology and innovation, blockages in democracy and equality

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Explores India’s rapid digital transformation alongside challenges such as misinformation, shutdowns and persistent digital divides.

Iceland: public service digitization leads the way to citizen empowerment

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Examines Iceland’s digital-first governance approach supported by national e-authentication, and challenges related to accessibility and digital literacy.

Guatemala: digital democratization in the absence of governmental plans

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Reflects on innovation-driven digital democratization in Guatemala despite the absence of strong government planning frameworks.

Ghana: stability and innovation—women entrepreneurs rise with mobile money

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Examines Ghana’s digital ecosystem, highlighting the growth of women-led entrepreneurship through mobile money while noting infrastructural and literacy gaps.

Estonia: from Tiger Leap and Skype to advanced digital democracy and a vibrant startup ecosystem

2025

By Bruck & Manzar

Examines Estonia’s evolution into a global model of digital democracy and the emerging challenges of cybersecurity and equal digital access.

Brazil: high-performance national infrastructure and the challenge of simplification

2025

By Bruck and Manzar

Examines Brazil’s rapid digital public infrastructure expansion and the need to simplify systems for equitable public access.

Australia: Navigating the Digital Frontier: A Journey of Inclusive Innovation and Social Good

2025

By Bruck and Manzar

Examines Australia’s expanding digital innovation landscape with a focus on universal connectivity and socially inclusive digital growth.

Building Smart Villages: A New Paradigm for Rural Development in India

2025

By Arpita Kanjilal & Osama Manzar

Proposes digitally connected smart villages as models of self-reliant, sustainable rural transformation.

When Power Meets Platform: Zuckerberg’s Fact-Check Ban and Its Impact on India’s Rural Digital Landscape

2025

By Arpita Kanjilal

Analyzes how removing fact-checking from Facebook strengthens powerful voices while deepening misinformation vulnerability for rural and marginalized communities.

Public Data of Private People: Issues of Data, Access and Privacy

2025

By Osama Manzar

Discusses mass data collection practices and Aadhaar-linked governance, warning of privacy risks and exclusion without strong legal safeguards.

Are Deliberate Documentation Errors Denying Bengal Tea Workers Access to State Welfare?

2024

By Dhiraj Singha

Investigates how deliberate documentation errors and digital exclusion block tea plantation workers from accessing essential welfare services.

The Gap Between Tech and the Artisan

2024

By Shefalee Vasudev

Examines how technological shifts affect artisan communities and the disconnect between digital adoption and traditional craft industry needs.

Indian Internet in late 90s and Contrast After a Quarter Century

2023

By Osama Manzar

Examines the evolution of India’s internet landscape from the 1990s to the present and reflects on growth, challenges and digital transformation.

The Case For Better Media, Digital And Information Literacy In School

2023

By Niharika Singh

With over 600 million smartphone users, India faces urgent gaps in media, digital and information literacy. Experts and educators call for integrating comprehensive MIL into school curricula to equip young people with critical thinking, online safety skills, and resilience against misinformation and digital inequality.

YOJANA- A Development Monthly

2022

By Osama Manzar, Megha Katheria, Dr Syed S Kazi

Examines digital financial inclusion in rural India through banking correspondents’ experiences, highlighting access, convenience, gender gaps and trust challenges.

Osama Manzar: The man who travelled to 10,000 villages

2022

By Priya Ramani

Reflects on Osama Manzar’s mission through the Digital Empowerment Foundation to help marginalised communities convert knowledge into livelihood and access digital opportunities.

20 DIGITAL YEARS: A Narrative of Inclusion and Exclusion

2022

By Osama Manzar

Traces DEF’s 20-year journey tackling India’s digital divide, from connectivity and local entrepreneurs to data ownership, misinformation and future challenges.

Digital India’s Success has come out of collaboration

2022

By Osama Manzar

Explores how civil society and community networks advance digital inclusion, protect digital rights and confront challenges of privacy, misinformation and internet shutdowns.

27 Years of Internet in India: Only a Citizen can save the Internet from its Consumer

2022

By Osama Manzar

Explores India’s 27-year internet journey, from dial-up origins to today’s data-driven era, warning about surveillance, platform power and citizen responsibility.

Solidarity and Struggle for Survival

2021

By Asheef Iqubbal and Sana Alam

Examines the 2020–21 farmers’ protest through visual documentation capturing solidarity, mobilisation and lived experience at Delhi’s borders.

The Voice of Fashion – Saving India’s Artisans Digitally

2021

By Osama Manzar

This article explores how digital tools and platforms are helping India’s artisans bypass middlemen, access wider markets, and sustain traditional crafts, highlighting the role of digital literacy, design innovation, and e-commerce in strengthening artisan livelihoods.

How Facebook Discover Replicated Many of Free Basics’ Mistakes

2021

By Meaghan Tobin

Examines how Facebook Discover mirrored the pitfalls of Free Basics, raising concerns around net neutrality, limited internet access, and platform-controlled content, while questioning whether such models truly enable open, equitable digital inclusion.

SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTS ALL OF US: The debate over social media needs to be expanded beyond the policy spheres.

2021

By Asheef Iqubbal

Examines the societal implications of social media and argues for a broader conversation beyond regulatory frameworks.

Rural Wi-Fi: Can it be a game-changer for Digital India?

2021

By Osama Manzar, Founder-Director, Digital Empowerment

Examines rural Wi-Fi connectivity models and their potential to transform digital inclusion.

We are the digital designers fighting information poverty

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Showcases community-driven digital entrepreneurship initiatives that address grassroots information poverty.

Accumulation of Power and Counter Power Around Internet Regulation

2021

By Asheef Iqubbal

Examines power structures embedded in internet governance and how regulation reinforces or challenges control held by states and corporations.

Osama Manzar and Digital Empowerment Foundation

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The journey and the making of a social entrepreneur and a social enterprise

The story of Digitally Empowered India

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Traces the growth of digital empowerment efforts in India through grassroots movements and institutional partnerships.

Community Networks: A boon in times of pandemic and lockdown

2020

By Kriti Singh and Osama Manzar

Examines the critical role of community-driven networks in sustaining connectivity during COVID-19 lockdowns.

CIVIL SOCIETY – A phone is not enough

2020

By Osama Manzar

Examines the limitations of mobile access as a standalone solution and argues for deeper forms of meaningful digital empowerment.

Internet to the Rescue of Unscripted Languages

2020

By Osama Manzar, Udita Chaturvedi and Abner Manzar

Examines how internet platforms support the preservation and empowerment of non-scripted or lesser-scripted languages in India.

People & Culture: A new project is taking
stories from India’s villages to the world

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This document highlights how grassroots storytelling initiatives are amplifying voices from India’s villages, preserving culture, and connecting rural narratives to global audiences through digital platforms.

Voices of Rural India: A New Platform for Storytellers from Indian Villages

2020

By Susanna Myrtle Lazarus

Voices of Rural India (VoRI) is a digital platform enabling storytellers from Indian villages to share local traditions, culture and lived experiences. By publishing and promoting rural narratives, it creates alternative income streams while helping bridge the urban–rural digital divide.

Migrants in ‘no man’s land’ need free talk time. Is the government listening?

2020

By Osama Manzar

Highlights migrant workers’ communication crisis during the COVID-19 lockdown, urging free talk time and internet access as essential services to help stranded labourers stay connected, access support, and navigate displacement in times of emergency.

The Impact of Coivd-19 on the Weavers of Musiri

2020

By Abner Manzar and Shreya Sehgal

Examines the effect of COVID-19 on the livelihood of weavers in Musiri, Tamil Nadu, through the lens of a DEF-Mphasis technology initiative.

The binary Language to unbind digital literacy for illiterate

2019

By Ritu Srivastava

Examines approaches to digital literacy for non-literate first-generation learners through binary-based learning systems.

How a Script-Agnostic Media Can Empower The Illiterate

2019

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Examines how non-text-based digital media platforms can empower communities with low literacy.

India election 2019: When Will

2019

By Samiha Nettikkara, BBC Reality Check

Analyses India’s 2019 broadband connectivity pledge, assessing progress under the BharatNet initiative, infrastructure gaps, and on-ground challenges in extending high-speed internet to rural villages ahead of national elections.

Imagine Every Household in India is Digitally Literate

2019

By MediaDev

Envisions an India where every household is digitally literate, highlighting how access to information, digital tools, and community networks can empower citizens, bridge inequalities, and unlock socio-economic opportunities across rural and underserved regions.

What’s the Way Forward?

2018

By Osama Manzar

This article argues that there is no technological firewall against hate and misinformation on platforms like WhatsApp. While features such as “forwarded” labels may help, lasting change must come from society—through accountability, critical thinking, and collective responsibility to counter rumours and violence.

Criticism Leveled at Mark Zuckerberg’s Internet.Org As An ‘Unethical Initiative’

2015

By Jacqueline Ronson

In 2015, Mark Zuckerberg’s Internet.org sparked debate in India on net neutrality and inclusive access, with organisations like the DEF calling for open and equitable internet models.

A Social Innovation Immersion Retreat

2026

By Museum of Digital Society

Ghunsari is a social innovation immersion retreat hosted at MoDS, Pondicherry from 3rd to 5th April 2026 with the Bihar Development Collective.

Critical Digital Literacy in the Age of AI

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Critical Digital Literacy in the Age of AI by the Digital Empowerment Foundation helps readers understand how artificial intelligence shapes media, information, and daily life. It builds awareness about AI applications, misinformation, critical thinking, and digital safety. The guide empowers learners to identify bias, verify facts, and use technology responsibly.

Circular Economy – Making good of what goes around, comes around

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The “Circular Economy” handbook explores the sustainable use of digital devices through reuse, recycling, and eco-friendly design. It offers policy insights and practical strategies to reduce e-waste and promote responsible digital consumption.

Module 1 – Digital Society

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This module brings together five modules developed as part of a 95-hour undergraduate course on “Digital Society” for Anant University, designed by the Digital Empowerment Foundation.

Module 2 – Digital Divide

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This module brings together five modules developed as part of a 95-hour undergraduate course on “Digital Society” for Anant University, designed by the Digital Empowerment Foundation.

Module 3 – Digital Exclusion

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This module brings together five modules developed as part of a 95-hour undergraduate course on “Digital Society” for Anant University, designed by the Digital Empowerment Foundation.

Module 4 – Digital Inclusion

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This module brings together five modules developed as part of a 95-hour undergraduate course on “Digital Society” for Anant University, designed by the Digital Empowerment Foundation.

Module 5 – Digital Empowerment

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This module brings together five modules developed as part of a 95-hour undergraduate course on “Digital Society” for Anant University, designed by the Digital Empowerment Foundation.

Modules on Mental Health

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The module will introduce the learner to understand what mental health is, its basic signs and symptoms, decoding stigma, understanding its risk and protective factor, learning emotional quotient, building resilience and inculcating gratitude.

Module 4: Critical Digital Literacy

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

In this module, we will explore the importance of critical digital literacy in today’s world and how it can help us stop the spread of fake news and misinformation. We will discuss the characteristics of reliable sources and how to identify and evaluate them. We will also explore the impact of fake news on individuals and society and the ethical responsibilities of digital citizens.

Critical Digital Literacy

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

In this module, we will explore the importance of critical digital literacy in today’s world and how it facilitates online safety and security. By the end of this module, we will have gained a solid understanding of critical digital literacy and developed the skills necessary to evaluate and share information responsibly. We will be better equipped to navigate the digital world with confidence and make informed decisions about the information we encounter.

Module 3: Facilitating Access to Citizen Services

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This module provides an overview of various digital solutions that can be used to facilitate access to citizen services. The module covers topics such as online portals, mobile applications, digital identity authentication, and e-payment systems, among others.

Module 1: Functional Digital Literacy

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Functional Digital Literacy module is designed to support women in various parts of India to learn the skills that will enable them to use digital technologies, including mobile phones, social media, and the Internet.

Module 2: Digital Financial Literacy

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Digital Financial Literacy module is designed to support women in various parts of India to learn the skills that will enable them to use digital technologies, including mobile phones, social media, and the internet.

Module 1: Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar

2023

Dushyant Arora

This module was developed to facilitate trainings with journalists and looks at why is privacy a fundamental human right and why is the protection of digital privacy important .

Module 2: Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar

2023

Dushyant Arora

This module was developed to facilitate trainings with journalists and looks at why are journalists the particular target of threats, including to their privacy.

Module 3: Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar

2023

By Dushyant Arora

This module was developed to facilitate trainings with journalists and looks at what are some practical steps journalists can take to protect their devices from attacks on their digital privacy.

Module 4: Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar

2023

Dushyant Arora

This module was developed to facilitate trainings with journalists and looks at the Information Technology Act, 2000 (‘the IT Act’).

Data Rights for Communities- English

2020

By Asheef Iqubbal

The presentation has been written to provide and create a sense of understanding amongst communities about data, how it is collected and used and the rights associated with it.

Data Rights for Communities- Hindi

2020

By Asheef Iqubbal

The presentation has been written to provide and create a sense of understanding amongst communities about data, how it is collected and used and the rights associated with it.

A Course for Barefoot Wireless Engineers- Setting up Wireless Networks Module I

2019

By Vasanta Akondy and Ritu Srivastava

This is a two-part course this first part covers some basic concepts related to planning the setup of wireless networks such as conducting a location survey and selecting the required hardware.

A Course for Barefoot Wireless Engineers- Setting up Wireless Networks Module II

2019

By Vasanta Akondy and Ritu Srivastava

This is a two-part course; this part of the handbook covers details of actual installation and maintenance of wireless networks.

Keeping Yourself Safe Online-Volume 1

2018

By Zothan Mawii

The has been compiled keeping in mind the security and safety needs of secondary school and college students. This kit contains basic online safety measures that should be adopted by everyone to have a safe and secure online experience.

State Public Library Conference 2018

2018

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The report is made on a two-day State Public Library Conference (SPLC) organised by Indian Public Library Movement (IPLM) and Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF). The theme of the conference was ‘Transforming Public Libraries in India: Opportunities and Challenges in Digitising Information, Content and Services’.

Digital Security Training Kit

2018

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The toolkit provides the reader with an overall understanding and steps they can take for securing themselves online.

Gender Sensitisation Handbook

2018

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The handbook provides the reader with information and difference between gender and sex with an objective to identify socially constructed norms and biological features.

Rural Information Society & Economy: Leveraging Citizen Need through Information Enterprise, Digital Skill & Entrepreneurship

2017

By Digtial Empowerment Foundation

This is a consultation report prepared by DEF for Soochnapreneurship 2017 event organised at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 3rd August, 2017 by Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) in partnership with Qualcomm’s Wireless Reach programme.

DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION’S PEOPLE-CENTRIC DIGITAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE (DPI) FRAMEWORK

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF’s people-centric Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) advancing rights-based, community-led digital governance.

Safe and Smart: Navigating the Online World Responsibly

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Navigating the Online World Responsibly is a practical guide to digital safety and citizenship. It empowers users, especially young people, to protect their privacy, spot red flags and make informed, responsible choices in online spaces.

SoochnaPreneur Model

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The SoochnaPreneur model embodies the concept of bricolage, leveraging locally available resources and intimate community knowledge to address systemic challenges of information asymmetry and digital exclusion in rural India.

DEF and Digital Artisans of India

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation details the work that DEF has done to enable artisans of India, connect them to digital and highlight the dedicated work of a decade for artisan development vis-a-vis digital.

The Paradox of Digital India

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Critical Digital Literacy Initiative

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation highlights the efforts of Digital Empowerment Foundation to advance critical digital literacy at the grassroots level. It has highlights of the toolkit, the trainings and the knowledge products developed to ensure the same.

OpenRAN & DEF’s W4C

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Disinformation in Asia

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Soochnapreneur: The Lifecycle of a Digital Rural Entrepreneur – Milestones and Impact

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

We in AI

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation highlights how DEF has been asking questions to build an ethical, inclusive, and community-centered approach to AI in India, ensuring that technology serves the needs of the most vulnerable in society.

The Digital Rural Changemaker

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF Definition of Digital Development

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

22 Years of Digital Empowerment Foundation

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation highlights how Digital Empowerment Foundation has been working to empower marginalised and unconnected communities living at the edge of information by enabling them with digital capacity, access and rights across the pillars of education and entertainment, livelihood and finance, health and agriculture, culture and heritage, with a special focus on digital rights for women, persons with disabilities and the youth.

Stories of Women Protagonism: Fighting the Digital Divide

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation looks at understanding how informal and non-intrusive approaches to introducing digital media, without imposing rigid social norms tend to gain greater acceptance with communities and the work of DEF to enable this kind of holistic social change.

Echoes of
Unbound Voices: Art and Expression for Social Behavioral Norms

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Dalit Voice is a portal dedicated to the legacy of VTR, a prolific journalist, and his political magazine. DEF helped to build the portal and create a digital archive of VTR and other Dalit Voices, their struggle for freedom of expression and will serve as a landing page with all the reading material and would be very useful for researchers, academicians and young Dalit leaders.

Enabling Inclusion Through Digital Empowerment

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Empowering Persons with Disabilities from Rural and Tribal CommunitiesnThrough Digital Entrepreneurship, STEM Learning, Digital Innovation, and Mentorship — Driving Inclusion, Exploration, and Transformation.

What’s women connectivity resilience?

2024

By Osama Manzar

Digital Empowerment Foundation’s Gender Equality & Digital Strategy

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Women are equal representation and force in this world; Due to historical, social, cultural, political, and economic reasons, the equal space of women in society have been in and under subjugation in the garb of natural / physiological limitations

AI for Community

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation highlights how Digital Empowerment Foundation has been working to empower marginalised and unconnected communities living at the edge of information and have been marginalised further by being kept at the periphery of AI development. This presentation highlights how DEF is working with the marginalised and underserved communities by connecting them to media information literacy, entrepreneurial avenues and knowledge sharing around AI and its development.

The Drawing Table at DEF for AI

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF Definitions

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

How We Think at DEF

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Role Play of SoochnaPreneurs

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Stories of Change, Transforming Lives Digitally

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The DIGI Case Stories Collection is inspiring journeys of individuals and communities who have experienced transformative change through the DIGI project.

SoochnaPreneur Lifecycle and Daily Roles

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Visual Thinking on Data at Agamishaala

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

SoochnaPreneur Model

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Green Prakriya Project Information

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The fundamental idea of DIGITAL GREEN PRAKRIYA PROGRAM is to transition from the traditional linear economy, where resources are extracted, transformed into products, and eventually discarded as waste, to a more circular and regenerative approach.

DEF’s Digital Tools and Innovations

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Skilling: Educate, Reach, Act and Engage

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Rural Digital Innovations: From the Learnings and Experiences of Digital Empowerment Foundation

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Over the past 20 years, the digital space and scenario have evolved, morphed, exploded, imploded, opened up opportunities, restricted freedom of speech, instilled confidence in the ambitious and also stunted growth succumbing to online bullying and fake news.

Skillbot_PCF10 Presentation

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

SkillBot is a one of a kind telegram based chatbot designed for building digital capacities for people in rural areas of India to enhance their livelihood. An interactive chatbot has been customised for this purpose to engage people. It is a self-learning-based learning management system customised for this purpose to engage people with multiple mediums of the learning experience.

A-Code Brochure

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Using Skill Chatbot to Address India’s Skill Shortage and Unemployment

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation and Council for Social and Digital Development

GOAL_PCF10

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) initiated the program Going Online as Leaders (GOAL) —to connect urban women who are leaders in their fields with rural women online to provide them guidance and support in digital skills to bridge the information gap. The program helps enable these girls to gain exposure and access to digital tools and learn about its uses and the latest technology innovations that are happening around the world.

Women Entrepreneurship Programs of DEF

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Skill Bot- Digital Skilling Chatbot for learners, entrepreneurs, and livelihood

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation helps in understanding the need and uses of Skill Bot that helps entrepreneurs to learn digital skills in an interactive way.

Women Empowerment Programs of DEF

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Art, Culture, Heritage & Rights

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Empowerment Foundation Per Pillar Presentation

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This covers the broad spectrum of work done by DEF along with the impact stories of some of the projects.

Digital Sarthak

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digital Sarthak is a national digital entrepreneurship and empowerment programme. The main objective of the project is to increase the digital capacity of Women entrepreneurs and community development organizations in marginalized and underserved regions in India by providing them with digital up-skilling support and strengthening their ability to engage on digital and ICT policy issues.

DEF Digital Village Model

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

MeraApp – Information and Management Solution

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation briefs about the functions, services provided, impact and features of the MERA App.

DEF Gets Justice Sunanda Bhandare Award

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Babita Saini of Digital Empowerment Foundation is the recipient of the 2021 Justice Sunanda Bhandare Award for its crucial role in helping to bridge India’s digital gender gap at time when the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has made online learning and access to digital information a necessity in a country where only one in four citizens has access to a digital device.

DEF Models

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This document gives a glimpse of all the foundation projects of DEF like Smartpur, IP Ville, etc.

CIRC Ecosystem Chart

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Chart to represent the ecosystem around CIRC aimed at fighting information poverty.

Empowering people @ the Edge of Information

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Poster to represent the beneficiaries of the projects of DEF.

Mobile Development Ecosystem

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Poster to represent the ecosystem of mobile development.

DEF Project Information

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The presentation highlights the various pillar and projects of DEF and their presence across the country.

The eHeritage Project

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation introduces and promotes The eheritage Project.

Innovation & Opportunities in Rural India

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation shares the stories of the innovations and opportunities shared by people from rural India.

Education & Empowerment

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presents about the projects which are enabling people to access better health, education, skills and livelihood opportunities through digital literacy and digital tools.

Digiprayas – Digitisation of Villages

By Axis Bank and Digital Empowerment Foundation

DigiPrayas, a joint Initiative of Axis Bank and Digital Empowerment Foundation, aiming to empower communities in rural India with financial-digital literacy like e-banking, ATM etc. across 5 states in India.

DIGI SUPPORT

By Axis Bank and Digital Empowerment Foundation

DigiSupport is a project initiated by Axis Bank and Digital Empowerment Foundation to empower financially excluded communities to digitally access and consume financial products, services and information through rural digital interventions.

Feminist Leadership Program

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The presentation shares about the activities under Feminist Leadership Program training module.

Limited Access Restricting Expression

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation talks about the report of the activities of Advocacy for Change through Technology in India, Pakistan and Malaysia (IMPACT) Project of the Association of Progressive Communications (APC) under the Internet Rights project at DEF.

Social Media for Democracy Workshop for MLAs

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation guids MLA’s to transition into digital media by eliciting the ways and areas of administration that can be covered using social media platforms.

Digital Cluster Development Programme Brochure

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This brochure presents the handloom clusters spread across India under Digital Cluster Development Programme (DCDP).

SBCC South Asia Regional Conversation Summit 2021

2021

By Dr.Syed S. Kazi, Arpana Sharma, Shruti Narula & Misbah Rashid

Presentation at SBCC South Asia Regional Conversation Summit 2021 on the topic of “Risk Communication and Community Engagement for COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour

Digital Cluster Development Programme

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presents the handloom clusters spread across India under Digital Cluster Development Programme (DCDP).

STEM FOR GIRLS

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a presentation about the initiative aimed to improve education and career pathways for girls in schools and shares about the activities, testimonials, engagement and impact of the project which took place in the states of Assam and Telangana.

Mobile Ecosystem

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Information Poverty

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This presentation shares about the CIRC model adopted by DEF in fighting information poverty.

Digital Library Program in Telangana

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a project presentation of Digital Library Program in Telangana aimed at strengthening public libraries as inclusive & dynamic spaces digitally.

CIRC Digital Village Ecosystem

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The posters represent the CIRC activities to set up smart villages.

Digital Empowerment Foundation Brochure

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The poster represents the establishment of six pillars of digital empowerment across India.

Rural Connect DEF Deck

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This document while putting out the data describes the realities of digital India and how DEF has been working to connect the Rural India.

Bridging the Digital Divide for Adolescent Girls in India

2020

By Centre for Catalyzing Change and Digital Empowerment Foundation

The flyer shares about the survey, findings and recommendations to help in bridging the digital divide for adolescent girls in India.

WhatsApp Deck- Fighting Fake News

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

With an aim to curb fake news, in partnership with WhatsApp, Digital Empowerment Foundation conducted community-based workshops to create awareness among users about the need to verify the information before sharing it.

What is the future jobs

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The chart represents the status of employment in India supported by statistics.

Establishing Women Soochnapreneur

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The presentation elaborates on the process of building Soochnapreneurs which involves their identification, enrolment, and engagement with the community. The presentation also explains the need, types, areas of training and capacity building of the Soochnapreneurs in a sustained mode including identifying community needs, planning and design for services, outreach and engagement, promotion, visibility, running NANO SP centres, documentation & reporting.

Historical Milestones of Public Engagement Policy Service since 2002

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This documents DEF’s milestone works, initiatives, areas of research as well as the ever-spanning network of countries DEF is associated with, ever since the foundation has started.

What, why and how for establishing a smart village ecosystem

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The chart represents the ecosystem around the six pillars established to set up a smart village.

Equally Able Academy of Digital Empowerment Foundation

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a presentation discussing the framework of the Equally Able Academy of Digital Empowerment Foundation.

WhatsApp “FAKE NEWS’ & “MISINFORMATION”

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This kit is designed to give the trainers along with the community people, students, police officials and NGOs, a framework to deal with fake news, misinformation and disinformation. The activities are contextual and extremely practical and participatory.

Barabanki Site Report

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Presents the assessment of the site in Barabanki to set up a centre.

In My fight for Independence- My Rights Uphold My Self-Confidence

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a small representation of a women’s journey in her fight for independence.

Digital Empowerment Foundation Board Meeting Deck

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Presentation enlisting the projects under DEF umbrella presented at the board meeting of 2020.

WhatsNext- Building Community Entrepreneurship and Fighting Misinformation

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

WhatsNext is an initiative of WhatsApp India and DEF that has emerged out of their partnership in ‘Fighting Fake News. WhatsNext aims to enhance the reach of WhatsApp as a primary tool of productive communication and constructive capacity building across India by driving the entrepreneurial efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises through WhatsApp Business and reaching out to over 50,000 people with the knowledge and awareness to fight misinformation towards building an evolved digital society.

MIL for oralilliteratenon-script

2019

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The presentation elaborates how Media Information and Literacy can be imparted to people without basic literacy. It also introduces the START kit, a digital learning toolkit that has been designed for first generation technology users to promote digital inclusion and fight information poverty

Soochna Mera Haq Hai

2019

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

There are 650,000 villages in India that are governed under almost 250,000 Panchayats or village councils, which further come under 6,000 blocks and 672 district — 250 of which have been classified by the government…

Fighting Fake News Whose Responsibility is it?

2019

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF conducted a survey of 3000 people across 11 states to analyse the mis/disinformation and fake news disorder that has been aggravating through messaging applications, focusing primarily on WhatsApp.

Establishing Smartpur- Part 1

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Is a holistic guide for creating smart villages
with an aim of describing the digital ecosystem of a village and map an integrated design procedure for building a smart village.

Establishing Smartpur- Part 2

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The module elaborates the entire methodology
of setting up an entire village ecosystem. With an aim to make the reader identify the social problems, needs of the community, project planning, identifying human resources, establishing the centres, training and capacity building of rural entrepreneurs, documentation & reporting and community engagement.

Establishing Smartpur- Part 3

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The third module elaborates the entire process of service delivery under six pillars of education, health, governance, finance, livelihood and entertainment. Along with detailed description what each pillar aims to achieve, what are its infrastructure and tool requirements and lastly the methodology behind implementation.

15 Wild Years

2018

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a depiction of 15 wild years of DEF.

Seelampur – India’s Digital Trashcan

2017

By Osama Manzar

This report shares about the stories of the dwellers of Seelampur and elicits the impact of the recycling and disposal of electronic gadgets on their lives.

Rural Dip – Rural Digital Immersion Program

2017

By Ravi Guria & Udita Chaturvedi

Rural Digital Immersion Programme or Rural DIP is an initiative of the DEF that has been conceptualised to share experiential learning from rural India with people across the globe. This programme facilitates an individual or a group of people to take a “dip” into the lives of rural citizens and their culture in regions where digital interventions have made an impact.

Adhiyan Tribal

2016

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a representation of the Adhiyan Tribal community.

Transform Your Outlook with Crowdsourcing and the Crowd Economy

2016

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

DEF’s presentation at the Crowd SOurcing Summit held at Tehran in 2016.

Threats or Opportunities for Local Languages, Culture & Knowledge?

2015

International Language Development Conference 2015 By Osama Manzar

Case Study: Digital Literacy Partnership

2025

By UNESCO

The UNESCO case study features the Digital Empowerment Foundation, detailing how NGO, government, and media partnerships promote Media and Information Literacy (MIL) adoption through 300 women factcheckers who combat village misinformation.

Chhattisgarh’s Female Fact-Checking Warriors Are Championing Cybersecurity Woes in India

2025

By Poorvi Gupta

In rural Chhattisgarh, women fact-checkers are fighting misinformation, online fraud, and gendered cyber threats through digital literacy and community empowerment.

Community Champions Digital Leaders Shaping a Just Transition

2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Report is a grassroots study focused on highlighting community perspectives to inform just and inclusive economic policymaking.

The Ideal Internet 3.0 – Digital Divides & Vulnerabilities of Indian Teens Online

2024-25

By RATI Foundation

Ideal Internet 3.0 is a national study examining how Indian teenagers experience digital access, literacy, safety, and agency across class, gender, and geography.

Meta’s Political Content Limit Causes Steep Drop in Reach for Accounts

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Accountable Tech asked five Instagram accounts with more than 10,000 followers each to share their Instagram account insights analytics data with us to measure the change in average reach per piece of content posted over a three month period.

Social Innovation Mapping

2024

By Law for All

An overwhelming majority of Indians do not have access to justice. Government mechanisms and public entitlements only reach a small percentage of citizens. While social innovations have marginally expanded the reach of the justice system, we still have a long way to go to address the needs of 1.3 billion people.

The story of Digitally Empowered India

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

CSR NGO Box first published this article that talks about the story of the Digital Empowerment Foundation, an organisation built over the years to fight information poverty by Osama Manzar.

We are the digital designers fighting information poverty

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Legatum Center at MIT has been conducting research on Innovation-driven enterprises (IDE) that are unlocking significant business and societal value by solving systemic problems that conventional business models have not been able to solve.

The story of Digitally
Empowered India

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The journey and the making of a social entrepreneur and a social enterprise.

Educating against deepfakes: India’s disinformation battle offers crucial lessons for upcoming elections

2024

By National Security News

India’s Disinformation Battle Offers Crucial Lessons’ that elucidates on India’s proactive battle against disinformation, focusing on empowering informed online users through the knowledge products developed to provide critical digital literacy at the grassroot level in India

India is No.1 again for internet shutdowns: ‘almost a form of collective punishment

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

India has the dubious honour of being the global leader in internet shutdowns for six years running, according to a recent report, with right advocates blaming a rise in “digital authoritarianism” under Prime Minister administration

Older adults – an important target group for media and information literacy activities?

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Activities aimed at enhancing MIL skills commonly target younger people. But there are a couple of initiatives that cater specifically for people over 60.

Internet Society and Digital Empowerment Foundation show a path to Connected the Unconnected in India, through Community Networks

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Internet Society (ISOC) and the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) emphasize the critical role of Community Networks in expanding Internet connectivity, particularly in rural India, by exploring synergies between community radios and community networks.

Connected Resilience: Gendered Experiences of Meaningful Connectivity through a Global Pandemic

2024

By Neema Iyer

The Global Digital Inclusion Partnership is a coalition of public, private, and civil society organizations working to bring internet connectivity to the global majority and ensure everyone is meaningfully connected by 2030.

Community Networks: Building Digital Sovereignty and Environmental Sustainability

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This volume is the result of a participatory process developed by the Dynamic Coalition on Community Connectivity (DC3) of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

Resource mobilization through bricolage in social enterprises

2024

By Aindrila Chatterjee

The primary focus of social enterprises is on improving welfare in society. Its rise in recent times has induced significant research interest, especially in factors that affect their performance.

The Time is Now: Policy Actions to Close the Gender Digital Divide

2024

By WiDEF Policy Brief Report

This WiDEF Policy Impact Report was produced by the Women in the Digital Economy Fund consortium, under the direction of Sonia Jorge, Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP).It was co-authored by Ingrid Brudvig, Jessica Brown, and Talant Sultanov of GDIP, and Madeleine Askham of GSMA.

Shaping an Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Future

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Digitalization continues to move at warp speed, transforming lives and livelihoods. At the same time, unregulated digitalization risks leaving people behind and exacerbating environmental and climate challenges.

Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Supported by UNESCO and Global Voices’ Rising Voices (RV), this toolkit extends the efforts of dedicated Indigenous digital practitioners. It illustrates how internet and other digital tools can be utilized to conserve, revive, and promote Indigenous languages, as well as other marginalized or minority languages.

Transforming Unequal Gender Relations in India and Beyond

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Great Indian Language Trouble

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The Digitalization Technology for Sustainable Rural Entrepreneurship: A Structured Review

2024

By Semarak ILMU Publishing

The journal highlights the opportunities and barriers of digital adoption in rural areas, offering insights for policy and strategy development.

Empowering Adolescents with Future-Ready Skills

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Globally, digital inclusion is recognized as a key
enabler in ensuring Education as an essential human right and accelerating the attainment of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Universal Access to Education and Learning beyond 2030.

Rethinking the Digital Shift for Weavers and Handloom Collectives: Opportunities and Challenges in India’s Handloom Sector

2024

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

India sits at the cusp of a creativity and culture-led manufacturing revolution. A significant player in this is the nation’s vast and diverse handloom sector that offers a ready foundation to build the future of sustainable textile value-chains.

Go Behind TIME’ Mark Zuckerberg Cover With Photographer Ian Allen

2023

By Lev Grossman

When a photo shoot doesn’t go according to plan, the “only thing you can do is to rely on what you’ve done in the past,” says Ian Allen. The San Francisco-based photographer had to do just that when TIME assigned him to shoot this week’s magazine cover story, which features Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Accelerating the SDGs through Digital Public Infrastructure

2023

By G20 & UNDP

A compendium showcasing how open, interoperable digital public infrastructure can accelerate progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals at population scale.

Inside Facebook’s Plan to Wire the World

2023

By Lev Grossman

Chandauli, a rural Indian town, is not on Google Maps and is home to people living below the poverty line. Today, it attracts global attention as Mark Zuckerberg, the 14th wealthiest man, visits in search of something undefined. Facebook, the company he co-founded, turned 10, and Zuckerberg himself turned 30, marking a significant shift for the once-young Silicon Valley startup.

India’s Tech Obsession May Leave Millions of Workers Without Pay

2023

By Parth M.N.

India’s tech obsession may unintentionally lead to dire consequences as the Modi government mandates low-paid workers to adopt a flawed digital registration system, which proves ineffective in areas with limited internet access. This move risks leaving millions of workers without proper pay and exacerbates the existing digital divide.

Instagram Posts About a 17th-Century King Are Getting People Arrested

2023

By Parth M.N.

The growing influence of right-wing groups in India is leading to a disturbing trend where individuals are being arrested based on Instagram posts related to a 17th-century king, as these groups actively monitor and report minorities for supposed religious offenses. This crackdown on social media is raising concerns about freedom of expression and the targeting of marginalized communities.

India’s Million Missions: 75 Years of Service Toward Nation-Building

2023

The authors of this report are drawn from the CSO COALITION@75 and have devoted pro bono time for it, in the best traditions of civil society and have been involved in the research and writing of the various sections of this report.

Global conference on cyber capacity building

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

For the first time in history, high-level leaders, experts on cyber security and capacity building, and the international development community across the world have gathered to work on common goals and solutions.

Gamified Inoculation Against Misinformation in India: A Randomized Control Trial

2023

By University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge in collaboration with Digital Empowerment Foundation have created a Hindi translation of the Join this Group game.

Internet Control and the Rise of Discrimination in India

2023

By Centre for Development Policy and Practice in collaboration with US- India Policy Institute

Non-profit crisis leadership during the COVID-19
pandemic in India and the United States

2023

By Katherine Rosenbusch, Krishna Gajjar, Aindrila Chatterjee & Sonal Soni

During extreme crises, governments’ capacity is compromised, and they need support from non-profits, especially to reach the vulnerable and marginalised. Our qualitative study examines leadership response to the COVID-19 pandemic at four US and Indian nonprofits; they paused their mission-related activities to focus on crisis leadership tasks.

How Free is Free Speech in Digital Age?

2023

By Common Cause

At Common Cause, we staunchly defend the citizens’ non-negotiable rights to free speech, liberty, and belief, recognizing the propensity of governments to excessively curtail these rights. Upholding the spirit of ‘reasonable’ restrictions, we remain committed to safeguarding Justice, Equality, and Fraternity for all.

Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Supported by UNESCO and Global Voices’ Rising Voices (RV), this toolkit extends the efforts of dedicated Indigenous digital practitioners.

The IT Industry in India

2023

By Centre for Development Policy and Practice

Hyderabad’s evolution into a cybercity began in the 90s, attracting global IT giants due to skilled human capital and the government’s supportive policies, notably the liberal industrial policy for the IT sector.

Agriculture in Telangana: From Plight to Pride

2023

By Centre for Development Policy and Practice

The research report titled “Agriculture in Telangana: from Plight to Pride” sheds light on various dimensions of Telangana’s agricultural domain.

Jan Soochna Portal Breakthrough

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This primer describes an example of Rajasthan’s civil society organizations working with the State Government to define how digital technology should be used for strengthening peoples’ rights and for sharing information in the public domain

How EdTech Companies Get Away with Exploiting Data of Minors

2023

By Titha Ghosh

NGOs are subject to funding through which EdTech firms pressure them to retrieve data beyond what’s required.

Women Connected: Strategies for Bringing the Gender Digital Divide in India

2023

By Reliance Foundation and Observer Research Foundation

The Women Connect Challenge India was launched in 2020 by Reliance Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Women’s inclusion in the creation and use of technology are important factors towards empowerment, facilitated by women’s financial inclusion, entrepreneurial aspirations, and civic participation.

The Ideal Internet 2.0

2022

By RATI Foundation

A research report examining how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped internet access, online behaviour, and digital inequalities among children from marginalised communities in India.

Why Did Santoshi Die?

2022

By H. Masud Taj

H Masud Taj is based in Canada, he’s an Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism and continues his practice as an architect, poet, and calligrapher. His writings can be accessed on Academia. He has created calligraphic poetry and art word tributing 20 years of DEF’s work and also attributing Osama Manzar for his dedication to social work and achieving feet of travelling more than 10,000 villages in India and across the world.
In his tribute, he converted one of the columns written by Osama Manzar.

Small and Medium Enterprise Digitization In Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India

2022

By MITRE

ALFAAZ KI MEHFIL

2022

By Centre for Development Policy and Practice

Agroecological Transitions Programme Policy Brief

2022

By Agroecological Transitions

Challenges & opportunities for using digital tools to scale agroecology by smallholders

HEROES AMONGST US: Inspirational Stories of Ordinary People who Achieved Extraordinary Success!

2022

By Dr. Amit Nagpal

Digital Leapfrogs- How technology is reshaping consumer markets in India

2022

By Vijay Mahajan- Author of Africa Rising

North Stars

2022

By Naghma Mulla

Osama is a round peg in a world of square holes. An explorer and a maverick, there is so much to learn from this free spirit who did not toe the line and carved his own path.

Mapping Changemaking in Law and Justice in India

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Still, I Rise

2022

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Still, I Rise is a celebration of Samvaad, a homage to its conviction that indigenous peoples and their collective wisdom may lead humanity into a truly sustainable and equitable future.

The Impact of Recruiting Women Entrepreneurs on Reducing Mission Drift

2022

By Centre for Development Policy and Practices

A research & study based on the “Soochnapreneur” Program of Digital Empowerment Foundation, a social enterprise in India

DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE
Issues, Practices and Innovations G20 Compendium of Case Studies

2022

By G20 and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Digital Divide

2022

By Oxfam India

The world is rapidly undergoing a digital transformation. India too has been catching pace. There have been growing efforts to make the country “digital” under a flagship programme of the Government of India called “Digital India”.

Last Mile Connectivity-Addressing the Affordability Frontier

2022

By Asian Development Bank

Jonathan Brewer consults for the telecommunications industry on the design, build, and operation of broadband, public safety, and Internet of Things networks. His customers are operators, governments, nongovernment organizations, and users throughout the Asia and Pacific region.

Global Information Society Watch 2021-2022

2022

By Association for Progressive Communications and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

Women’s Empowerment Collectives and the Power of Digital: A Research and Learning Agenda

2021

By BBC Media Action

Asia-Pacific Regional Community Networks Summit 2021
Innovating Policymaking to Connect the Unconnected

2021

By Internet Society

It is a summary report of Asia-Pacific Regional Community Networks Summit 2021 which reflected on the progress since the 2019 Summit in improving connectivity, and the use of Community Networks (CN) as a complementary access solution in the Asia-Pacific region. COVID-19 has made this work especially pressing.

The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2021

2021

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This report focuses on the gender gap observed in the usage of mobile phones and the consequent negative and disproportionate impact. In the wake of the pandemic, this report sheds light on improving the gender equality that has been gained over the years by emphasizing on access to mobile phones to women.

Encryption Pros and Cons

2021

By Adeola Akinla, Ayesha Gulley, Kirthika Selvakumar, Zoe Tilsiter

This is a report on discussing the pros and cons of double edged encryption technology. While this technology makes is easier to establish confidentiality and security, it serves as an easier way to conceal criminal activity which has to be considered by the policymakers in bringing new regulations.

Fast Forward to Civilizational Greatness: Agenda for India

2021

By Pradip N. Khandwalla

This book encompasses a holistic approach towards achieving a great civilization with anecdotes from exceptional NGOs which have contributed to fill the gaps of growth and excerpts from history that proudly boasted about the richness of human civilization.

BROADBAND BITS & BYTES: A BIF Bi-Annual Communique

2021

By Broadband India Forum

The Wi-Fi Enabler for an Inclusive Internet By Broadband India Forum

Rural Broadband Policy Framework: Connecting the Unconnected

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) in partnership with DEF, among others, developed a Rural Broadband Policy Framework (RBPF) which aimed to provide guidance to address the persistent ‘Digital Divide’, with a focus on the context and challenges faced in rural areas.

Challenges of Last Mile Connectivity

2019

By Osama Manzar, Zothan Mawii and Udita Chaturvedi

This is a policy paper that advocates the usage of strategies and technologies that must be implemented to achieve the last mile connectivity by 2024.

Artificial intelligence: Human rights, social justice and development

2019

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Anulekha Nandi, Research and Advocacy,
contributed to GIS Watch 2019 edition on the contextual parameters and questions around evaluating institutional application of AI and developing ethical governance frameworks.

iMPACT: Insights & Inspiration for Social Innovation

2018

By AsianNGO

iMPACT Magazine covers dedicated features on the issues and strategies in the development sector. Over 1,500 copies are published in print quaterly, discussing themes in nonprofit, CSR, social enterprise and philanthropic leaders.

Building Sustainable Wireless Community Networks: Experiences from India

2017

By Ritu Srivastava

Ritu Srivastava, Research and Advocacy, contributed to Alliance for Affordable Internet’s (A4AI) 2017 affordability report shedding light on DEF’s initiative — W4C, aiming to provide affordable, ubiquitous and democratically controlled internet access in the rural regions of India.

Disrupting Democracy

2017

By Osama Manzar and Udita Chaturvedi

Osama Manzar – Founder, Director and Udita Chaturvedi contributed to Bertelsmann Foundation’s series called ‘Disrupting Democracy’ aimed at arguing how connecting India institutionally would not only open access to information, rights, entitlements and possibilities of a better livelihood but also enables behavioural and social changes in communities.

Community Connectivity: Building the Internet from Scratch

2016

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Ritu Srivastava, Research and Advocacy,
contributed to Community Connectivity: Building the Internet from Scratch, an annual report of the UN IGF Dynamic Coalition on Community Connectivity, exploring the efficacy of creating wireless community networks (WCN), Rural Internet Service Provider (RISP) or Community-based Internet Service Provider (C-ISP) as well as the possibility of policies in wide spreading information infrastructure for the larger masses of the country.

Kurukshetra- A Journal on Rural Development

2016

By Osama Manzar, Rajat Kumar, Udita Chaturvedi

DEF examined the budget 2016-17 with respect to the focus on the intersection of ICT tools and social welfare schemes as well as other sectors of Education and Agriculture.

Unlicesed Spectrum

2014

By The Centre for Internet & Society

This is a set of policy recommendations demonstrating the importance of unlicensed spectrum as a medium for inexpensive connectivity in rural/remote areas and source of innovation by serving as a barrier-free and cost-effective platform.

Mobile Effect

2013

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Vodafone Foundation in association with DEF began the ‘Mobiles for good’ initiative under which NGOs/initiatives that have been working towards instrumentalising mobiles for social good, were provided with crucial grants for improvising and scaling up.

Red Rickshaw Revolution

2013

By Abner Manzar

Abner Manzar documented interactions-stories of eleven inspirational women across 5 states of India in the Red Rickshaw Revolution report that was initiated by Vodafone Foundation in association with Digital Empowerment Foundation.

ICTs and Environmental Sustainability: Mapping National Policy contexts India baseline study

2011

By Syed S. Kazi & Divya Menon

DEF in partnership with Association for Progressive Communications (APC) conducted a baseline study on the ICTs and its negative impact on the environment and ecosystem. With the growth of e-waste in India, the study aimed at developing understanding around ICTs’ sustainability and a way forward for the civil societies for ICTs’ management.

Net Chakra

2011

By Osama Manzar and Madanmohan Rao

Osama Manzar – Founder, Director along with researcher Madanmohan Rao edited a series of papers on the ‘15 years of Internet in India: Retrospectives and Roadmaps’.

Digital Review of Asia-Pacific

2009-2010

By SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific Pvt. Ltd.

The Digital Review of Asia Pacific wishes to acknowledge the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for its proactive engagement and financial support, for its commitment and encouragement to regional research and authorship, and for its dissemination of research results within and beyond the Asia Pacific region.

Report of Task Force to suggest measures to stimulate the growth of IT, ITES and Electronics Hardware manufacturing industry in India

2009

By Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications & IT, Government of India

The Government of India constituted this task force to stimulate the growth of the IT, ITES and electronics hardware manufacturing industry in the country. The report outlines a vision and strategy for the integrated development of the Information, Communication Technology and Electronics (ICTE) sector, covering software, hardware and strategic electronics.

Just AI Awards Report 2025

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

2025

It is a report of 2025 Just AI Awards, which recognise and showcase ethical AI innovations that demonstrate measurable social impact. The awards highlight practical applications of AI that advance equity, inclusion, sustainability, and accountable governance.

Kargha Tales: Stories of our Digital Artisans of India

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

2025

Kargha Tales documents the lived journeys of India’s artisans as they navigate craft, community, and the digital world. Through intimate narratives and visual storytelling, it captures resilience, dignity, and innovation, showing how traditional knowledge adapts through digital pathways to sustain livelihoods, preserve heritage, and claim visibility in contemporary markets.

Kargha Tales: Stories of our Digital Artisans of India

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

2024

Kargha Tales brings together powerful stories of India’s digital artisans, tracing how craft, culture, and technology intersect. Through voices from diverse regions and traditions, the book celebrates resilience, innovation, and dignity, showing how digital tools help artisans preserve heritage, expand livelihoods, and reach global audiences.

Alfaaz ki Mehfil 2024

Intoduction by: Mohammad Zaheeruddin

2024

How I fortuitously fell in love with Urdu poetry is explained in the Preface to the first edition (below). It turned out to be not a passing affliction but an enduring affection.

From Bytes to Rights: 21 Years of Digital Entrepreneurship and Inclusion in Rural India

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

2024

This book is an odyssey into the heart of grassroots transformation and digital empowerment through the SoochnaPreneur Award 2023-24, an initiative born from the vision of Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF).

Mobiles for Sustainable Social Change

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

We at the Digital Empowerment Foundation have been striving towards eradicating information poverty in India for the last 20 years.

Digital Solutions for Community

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

2023

We at the Digital Empowerment Foundation have been striving to eradicate information poverty in India for the last 20 years.

Power of People and Participation

2023

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

We at the Digital Empowerment Foundation have been striving towards eradicating information poverty in India for the last 20 years.

Social Networks for Public Good- SM4E Awards

2020-21

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

It is a report of 2021 social media for Change Awards that honour and recognise those social media initiatives that are using social media technology as a catalyst for communication, spreading awareness and fulfilling their mission and needs of social development.

Mobile: An Instrument of the Masses-mBillionth Awards

2020-21

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

It is a report of 2021 mBillionth awards that recognises excellence in mobile innovations for development.

eNGO Challenge Award 2020-21

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

It is a report of 2020-21 e-NGO awards of Indian and International level civil society organisations documenting the digital impact they have been instrumental in disseminating.

Mobile First

2020

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

South Asia has the largest unconnected population across the globe. In the contemporary world, with mobile phones emerging as the first choice for digital
initiation, the South Asians are gradually marking their presence on the world map as the largest ‘mobile first’ population to join the netizens.

The Culture of Mobile

2018

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

As 2016 inched closer to 2017, India boasted over 600 million unique MOBILE users, making it the second largest mobile market in the world. Looking forward, India aims to add 330 million more mobile subscribers by 2020.

Mobile Society

2017

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

South Asia has the largest unconnected population across the globe. In the contemporary world, with mobile phones emerging as the first choice for digital initiation, the South Asians are gradually marking their presence on the world map as the largest ‘mobile first’ population to join the netizens.

Nations of Innovations

2016-17

By Osama Manzar

With the motto ‘Inform, Communicate and Empower’, Digital Empowerment Foundation aims to find sustainable ICT solutions to overcome information poverty in remote and rural locations of India

CIRC Award 2016-17

2016-17

By Sharada Kerkar and Adya Parashar

Community Information Resource Centre (CIRC), the flagship programme of Digital Empowerment Foundation, envisions creation of information empowered, equitable communities by providing digital access to information, knowledge and online services.

Digital North East for Digital India

2016

By Dr Syed Kazi, Rimi Phukan

There are plenty of digital innovations happening in the North East region, with the coming-of-age bright entrepreneurial minds, putting together brilliant ideas for implementation in the region and ensuring a technical facelift to the development process of North East India.

Transforming lives- Manthan Awards

By Arjun Sen

2015

This is a report of 2015 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.

You, Me & Mobile – mBillionth awards

2015

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a report of 2015 mBillionth awards aimed at recognising innovations in mobile technology and applications serving citizen needs in South Asia.

Social Impact awards 2015

2015

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a report of Social Impact Awards 2015 that celebrates and recognises best practices and innovations in social and community development in North East India.

District Collector as Digital Champions

2015

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a report on Digital Champion Awards 2015 that seeks to recognise and encourage district level administrators in India who champion the cause of using ICT tools to ensure citizen empowerment and better delivery of government services to citizens in day-to-day governance.

Paving the way for Digital Innovation – SM4E

2015

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Information Innovation Empowerment

2014-15

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a report of 2014 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.

Digital Dividends South & West India

2014-15

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a report of 2014 Manthan Awards that aims at Recognising and honouring ICT interventions for development.

Celebrating Digital Information tools

2014-15

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

It is a report of 2014-15 e-NGO awards of Indian and International level civil society organisations documenting the digital impact they have been instrumental in disseminating.

mBillionth Cellular Impact 2014

2014-15

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a report of 2014 mBillionth awards aimed at recognising innovations in mobile technology and applications serving citizen needs in South Asia.

eUttara -Stories of Digital Empowerment of UP

2014-15

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

This award book consists of digital innovators and practitioners of Uttar Pradesh and their exemplary works, inclusion across the State.

Social Media @ Your service – SM4E Awards

2014

By Osama Manzar

It is a report of 2014 social media for Change Awards that honour and recognise those social media initiatives that are using social media technology as a catalyst for communication, spreading awareness and fulfilling their mission and needs of social development.

Digital Innovations for citizen services in north east

2014

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

The programme was scheduled into three power knowledge workshops, the Digital innovations showcasing, and the 5th eNorth East Award 2014 Gala evening.