India has been on a steady journey of digitisation for more than two decades, and while it has made significant gains in metropolitan cities, urban and even semi-urban areas, many parts of rural India remain underserved. Even though several key government services can be accessed online, and smart phone usage is high even in rural areas, many families are unable to take benefit of these schemes, often due to problems related to access or ignorance. Google is attempting to remedy this.
Google Cloud has partnered with Axis My India, an Indian consumer data intelligence company, to build an inclusive and multilingual super-app called “a”, that aims to grow people’s awareness, accessibility, and utilization of government social welfare schemes, basic day-to-day amenities, employment opportunities, and healthcare benefits. The announcement was made at Google annual India 2023 event held recently.
In a statement released by the company, it said, “Axis My India will scale the reach of “a” with the power of Google Cloud’s infrastructure so that it can reach every Indian regardless of whether they live in rural or urban areas. Gen AI from Google Cloud will also enable Axis My India to not only match user queries with the most relevant and personalized government information in real time, and in the language they speak, but it will also get smarter over time as it tracks touchpoints from initial query to the delivery of the final benefit to the citizen.” The service will be available in 13 Indian languages across over 700 districts.
According to Pradeep Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, Axis My India, “By leveraging Google Cloud technologies, we aim to create an inclusive platform that truly empowers citizens with authentic information and solutions based on their needs.” He further said, “Axis My India’s extensive reach and expertise affords us an unprecedented opportunity to bring information equity between rural and urban India through our platform. This free of cost app will act like a ‘Guide to every Citizen’”.
But this is not the only initiative taken by Google to help underserved communities. Earlier this June, Google Cloud partnered with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), which is a company that aims to create an inclusive ecosystem for e-commerce. Together they announced the launch of the open-sourced solutions enabling buyers and sellers to onboard seamlessly onto the ONDC Network. Now the program is taking its next steps, and to further democratize access to digital commerce, regardless of digital literacy, geography, or economic status, this partnership is being expanded to enable Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), to sell their produce online, thereby giving farmers greater channels for revenue.
T Koshy, MD & CEO at ONDC said, “ONDC is steadfast in its commitment to empower India’s farmers by facilitating their access to digital markets and harnessing the benefits of e-commerce. With Google’s genAI and cutting-edge tools, we are poised to provide a boost to India’s farmers, enabling them to seamlessly navigate the digital commerce landscape, enhancing their visibility, and accelerating their path to success. Together, ONDC and Google Cloud stand proudly at the forefront of this transformative journey.”
