Lucknow: The Institution of Engineers (India), Uttar Pradesh State Centre, marked World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) with a thought-provoking event at Engineers Bhawan, River Bank Colony, Lucknow. The theme for this year—“Gender Equality in Digital Transformation”—resonated strongly in a nation where the digital gender divide is gradually narrowing but still remains significant.
The event witnessed enlightening addresses by Ms. Jaspreet Kaur and Ms. Pallavi Pant, noted experts in digital inclusion and gender equity. They shed light on the urgent need for bridging the digital gap between men and women in the country and globally.
Citing recent statistics, the speakers and organisers highlighted key disparities:
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Only 39% of women in India use the internet, compared to 61% of men.
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Overall digital literacy among women in rural and urban India hovers around 35–45%, boosted by government efforts such as PMDISHA (Pradhan Mantri Digital Saksharta Abhiyan).
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Women are 20–25% less likely to own a mobile phone than men.
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Female participation in online freelancing, home-based businesses, and social media marketing ranges between 20–30%, indicating promising but uneven growth.
The event commenced with a warm welcome by Professor Dr. Bharat Raj Singh, Former Chairman of the Institution of Engineers (UP State Centre) and Director General, SMS Technical Campus, Lucknow. He emphasized the role of digital empowerment in achieving gender parity and socio-economic development.
Event convenors Engr. N.K. Nishad and Professor Dr. Neelam Srivastava played pivotal roles in steering the discussions and organizing the day’s proceedings.
Prominent members of the engineering fraternity graced the occasion, including Engr. Vinod Saxena, Engr. S.K. Verma, Engr. N.C. Mittal, Engr. Dr. Jaswant Singh, Engr. G.M. Pandey, Engr. Jamal Nusrat, Engr. M.S. Azad, Engr. Radheyshyam, and Engr. Jagmohan Lal Jaiswal, adding weight to the discussions with their professional insights.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Engr. Vijay Pratap Singh, Honorary Secretary, who appreciated the participation of all stakeholders and reaffirmed the Institution’s commitment to promoting inclusivity in engineering and digital innovation.
This year’s WTISD celebrations served as a timely reminder of the need for collaborative efforts to ensure that no one—especially women—is left behind in the digital revolution.
