Out of Coverage Area: Tribes and Digital Exclusion in North-east India

Abstract

Digital space is fast transforming the way we communicate, building social relations, a sense of entertainment, business, political campaign and an arena of exclusion for certain social groups. The COVID-19 pandemic exposes the deep digital divide and social inequality among different social groups in India. Digital exclusion is the new horizon of social exclusion. This paper charts out where tribes in North-east India stand in terms of digital infrastructure/space. The paper argues that digitalising welfare schemes/programmes and e-governance without adequate digital/IT infrastructure further marginalised and excluded tribes from development processes leading to disempowerment.