The city of Baran in Rajasthan primarily houses a tribal population while half the area of the district lies barren. Literacy rates in the district, especially woman literacy rates, are low and digital literacy is a remote dream. Since 2006, Government provided Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, including computer labs with minimum 10 computers, projector, internet connection and power back-up in over 7,200 Government schools of Rajasthan including 105 Government schools in Baran district. However, utilisation level of these computer labs by both teachers and students was very low, resulting in inactive computer labs. Thus, there was an urgent need to integrate technology at the grass root level for digital empowerment and creation of a strong learning ecosystem. Project Utkarsh was launched to leverage the underutilised ICT infrastructure and address the need for digitally empowered youth in rural areas. ‘The project was initiated as a mission to bring qualitative and accountable change to mass school education through technology and quiz-based learning. The programme is designed to leverage ICT labs and infrastructure for handson skill building, curiosity-driven teaching and learning with content in local language, building a scientific temperament, capacity building, assessment and performance benchmarking, remote monitoring, data-driven administrative empowerment and establishing accountability... Read More