Digital India BHASHINI Division – Digital India BHASHINI Division , Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology

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Case Study

Digital India BHASHINI Division

Introduction

Bhashini is a transformative initiative under the Digital India program that enhances access to digital services by providing them in local languages. In a linguistically diverse country like India, language barriers can hinder citizens from accessing vital services. Bhashini addresses this issue by enabling interactions with digital platforms in users’ preferred languages, promoting inclusivity and user-friendliness in the digital landscape.

Problems

• Language Divide: Many citizens, particularly non-English speakers, face difficulties in navigating digital services that are predominantly available in English.
• Linguistic Inclusivity: There is a critical need for Indigenous AI solutions that promote language inclusivity and innovative applications to reshape the digital landscape.
• Resource Demands: Implementing and sustaining projects like Bhashini requires substantial resources, including time, finances, and personnel.
• Data Security: Safeguarding personal and sensitive information from unauthorized access and misuse is paramount, necessitating stringent measures to ensure confidentiality and security.

Solutions

Bhashini has developed several innovative solutions to tackle these challenges:

• Conversational Interfaces: The initiative offers bilingual options for Conversational UPI Payments and Conversational Bill Payments, allowing users to transact in their preferred languages.
• Real-time Speech Translation: The Bhashini Live S2S app provides real-time speech translation in 11 Indian and 14 international languages, facilitating seamless communication.
• Document Translation: Legal documents are translated from English into 12 Indian languages, benefiting 25 judicial bodies and improving access to legal resources.
• Frictionless Credit Platform: The Reserve Bank of India’s Frictionless Credit platform streamlines the loan process for farmers using vernacular land records from state departments, enhancing financial inclusion.

Challenges

• Understanding and Fostering Inclusivity: Ensuring that all interactions are understood and inclusive while preventing misunderstandings remains a significant challenge.
• Resource Allocation: The demands of the project can strain available resources, including time and personnel, which are essential for effective implementation.
• Data Protection: Addressing issues related to the protection of personal and sensitive information is crucial to maintaining user trust and compliance with regulations.

Innovations

Bhashini’s solutions are characterized by extensive support for multiple Indian languages, aligning with its objective to bridge linguistic barriers. This broad language capability is vital for reaching a diverse audience and ensuring inclusivity in digital access.

Outcomes

The impact of Bhashini has been substantial:

• User Engagement: Approximately 13.07 crore active users have engaged through Janmanrega, supporting 3.2 crore households and assisting 11 crore farmers through the PM Kisan scheme.
• Language Support: The initiative supports 22 regional languages, has translated over 16,000 labels, and positively impacts 2.7 lakh village panchayats.
• Transportation Improvements: More than 20,000 station and train names have been transliterated, enhancing local engagement.
• Grievance Registration: The platform facilitates the registration of over 10,000 grievances and suggestions daily, promoting responsiveness and accountability.

Opportunities

Despite the extensive language support offered, there remains an opportunity to expand the initiative to include certain regional dialects and less commonly spoken languages. Addressing this gap could further enhance the reach and impact of Bhashini, ensuring that all communities are included in the digital narrative.

Summary

Bhashini is particularly impactful in rural and semi-urban areas, where local languages dominate everyday communication. By breaking down language barriers, the initiative empowers citizens across India to fully engage with and benefit from digital services. This commitment to linguistic inclusivity ensures that no one is left behind in the nation’s digital journey, fostering a more equitable society.

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For more information, please contact:
Amitabh Nag at ceo-dibd@digitalindia.gov.in

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