Background

Across many rural communities in India, access to reliable internet and digital tools is still far from consistent. While urban spaces are rapidly becoming more connected, many villages continue to face challenges such as irregular electricity, limited digital awareness, and lack of access to devices. This gap affects different groups in different ways. For women, it can limit access to income and financial independence, while for children and young people, it can restrict opportunities for learning, skill-building, and exposure. 

In fact, recent data from the International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research’s January 2026 report suggests that only about 34% of women in rural India have ever used the internet, highlighting how uneven digital access continues to be. At the same time, access to devices remains a broader issue, with nearly half of rural households lacking consistent access to smartphones or personal digital devices, making it difficult for both adults and students to fully participate in an increasingly digital world. While there is a growing global interest in expanding connectivity through newer technologies like satellite internet, access alone is often not enough;  it also depends on whether communities have the infrastructure, awareness, and support needed to use these tools in ways that are practically useful. 

Recognising this gap between technological advancement and on-ground realities, One Village, Ready was conceptualised as a step towards understanding how emerging connectivity solutions can be made more accessible and relevant for rural communities. With a focus on underserved groups, the project aims to explore how digital access, when supported by the right conditions, can enable skill-building, income generation, and more sustainable forms of economic participation.