Kerala becomes India’s first fully digitally literate state

Kerala becomes India’s first fully digitally literate state
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Kerala has become India’s first fully digitally literate state after a three-year campaign engaging residents of all ages, including those over 100 years old, Arab News reported. The initiative began in Pullampara village near Thiruvananthapuram, where rural workers receiving digital salary payments needed online skills to verify transactions. This sparked a broader digital literacy drive supported by the government, originally targeting people up to age 60 but eventually attracting much older participants.

The campaign, led locally by village councils and expanded statewide through Kudumbashree self-help groups, empowered villagers to use smartphones beyond calls—for news, education, and entertainment. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the achievement, noting the state’s historic literacy milestone in 1991 and citing data showing only 38% of Indian households are digitally literate.

Kerala’s literacy rate stands at 96.2%, well above the national average of 80%. Digital literacy is measured per household, counting if at least one member can use digital tools. Many seniors, like homemaker Padmini Vishwamnathan, have embraced new learning opportunities and digital engagement, highlighting the campaign’s success in bridging the digital divide.