Why tribal communities in Kerala are at the receiving end of digital disconnect
Tribal communities in Kerala, India, are struggling to access government services due to mandatory digital authentication requirements like Aadhaar and OTP verification. Many residents lack the necessary technology, network coverage, or accurate documentation to comply with these one-size-fits-all digital policies.
Why it matters
It highlights the 'digital divide' and the unintended consequences of digitizing public services for marginalized populations.
Karutha, a senior citizen from Pathrachal tribal settlement located in Edavaka grama panchayat of Mananthavady in Wayanad district of Kerala, has not been receiving foodgrains under the public distribution system (PDS) for over six months now.
When tribal welfare activists tried to address this, they found a tricky problem. Her fingerprints could not be matched with the electronic point-of-sale scanner at the local fair price shop to authenticate her identity. “Since the names of none of her immediate family members are on the ration card, Ms. Karutha is forced to depend on her neighbours and other relatives for foodgrains now,” says one of the activists.
This is among the many examples of a crisis being faced by the tribal communities in Kerala even as uniform digital policies are implemented in a rather one-size-fits-all manner.
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