India’s Digital Divide & Our Mission to Change It — Introducing STEMSUP

Hello and welcome to our blog section,

We are proud (and a little emotional) to share our first blog from the STEMSUP Foundation. After months of listening, planning, and laying foundations, we are stepping into the world with hope, humility, and a mission that means everything.

STEMSUP stands for Social Transformation to Empower Marginalised Sections and Unleash Potential. It's a big name, but the heart of it is simple: We believe that every child—regardless of where they are born—deserves access to opportunity, dignity, and a fair shot at the future.

Why We Started The Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (2024) showed a hard truth:

Nearly three out of four youths in India still lack basic digital skills (CAMS, 2024). These aren't advanced skills—they are basics like opening and sending an email with an attachment, typing a note, or finding information online. The divide is even more stark in rural areas, especially among first-generation learners who are expected to succeed in a world they have never been given the tools to navigate.

Some more eye-opening data:

• Almost half of rural middle school students (Classes 6–8) don't have consistent access to digital devices (ASER, 2023).

• Only 28% of girls in villages between ages 12–16 say they can access digital learning tools (UNICEF, 2022).

• In backward districts, less than 15% of schools have basic digital infrastructure (NITI Aayog, 2023).

• While 89% of rural youth say there's a smartphone at home, only a third own one. The gender divide is clear: boys are twice as likely to own a phone as girls (43.7% vs. 19.8%) (ASER, 2023).

• Most young people in villages use smartphones to watch videos or play games, but only one in four has tried using them for education, and services like paying a bill or filling out a form (ASER, 2023).

• Fewer than half of rural youth know how to protect themselves online, like changing passwords or reporting abuse (ASER, 2023).

• Even everyday tech tasks—setting an alarm, using Google Maps, or finding a government scheme—remain out of reach for many. Just 37% could use Maps correctly, with girls performing consistently lower than boys (ASER, 2023).

Behind every statistic is a child who deserves better.

What We Are Building

We have founded STEMSUP to help close this gap—not with a top-down model, but with work that starts in villages and communities. That is why we are headquartered in the town of a tier-three city.

Our upcoming pilot program, Project ThulirTech, is focused on building offline-ready digital learning hubs in Tamil Nadu. These will serve students aged 12 and above, especially in aspirational districts identified by NITI Aayog.

Each learning space will include the following:

• Tablets and foundational STEM content

• Offline access to educational material in local languages

• Community-based mentorship

• Exposure to digital tools, financial and climate literacy, and life skills

We are not just handing out devices—we are building spaces where children feel seen, supported, and encouraged to grow.

How You Can Help

We are just getting started, and every bit of support matters. If you are an individual, your contribution can directly support learning, access, and awareness:

• ₹2,500 supports a month of learning for one child

• ₹5,000 provides a digital starter kit (tablet + content)

• ₹100 plants a tree and funds a climate awareness session

If you are working in education, digital inclusion, climate, or CSR—whether from the corporate, policy, or philanthropy side—we would love to connect. Your advice, partnerships, and introductions can help us grow this movement in the right direction.

All donations are eligible for tax exemption under Section 80G under the Income Tax Act of 1961.

This is just the beginning. STEMSUP isn't just about accessing devices. It's about telling every child: "You matter. You belong. And you have the right to dream."

Thank you for being here.

Omprakash

Founder, STEMSUP Foundation