Common Services Centers launches WhatsApp chatbot to provide digital literacy services and resources

The Common Services Centers (CSC) on Thursday launched a WhatsApp chatbot which aims to help citizens receive a range of digital literacy services and resources on their mobile phones. 

To get started, users can send a “Namaste” text to Academy’s official WhatsApp account +91 99991 89321. The chatbot will provide details and course modules for flagship government programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) and the Digital Beti initiative. The service is available in English, Hindi and seven other regional languages.

The agency aims to use the chatbot as a tool to expand the reach of education and skill development initiatives across the country. CSC’s WhatsApp chatbot is expected to be used by 10 million beneficiaries by August 2021. The Digital Beti initiative aims to train 5,000 rural entrepreneurs on digital literacy in over 3,000 villages across 10 Indian states, while the PMGDisha initiative focuses on making at least 40% rural households digitally literate.

“With the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, education and skill development initiatives across the country have been disrupted and this partnership will serve the dual purpose of empowering rural communities by providing digital skills at their doorstep in addition to creating livelihood through promotion of  rural entrepreneurship,” said WhatsApp-CSC in a release.

WhatsApp said is also working with NITI Aayog’s WEP programme. The company hopes the partnership will play an important role in driving digital and financial inclusion across India.