DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN TUMKUR CITY: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THE ROAD TO VIKSIT BHARAT 2047
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1956/jge.v22i3.891Keywords:
Tumkur city, digital inclusion, Viksit Bharat 2047Abstract
Tumkur, one of Karnataka's prominent industrial and educational cities, sits at a crossroads of urban aspiration and semi-rural reality. Known for its coconut farms, silk production, and a growing engineering college cluster, the city is attempting to ride the wave of India's digital economy while several of its wards and surrounding areas remain poorly connected. This paper examines how digital transformation is unfolding at the ground level in Tumkur — what is working, what is not, and what needs to change. The study draws on field visits to twelve locations across different zones of the city, discussions with approximately 160 residents including local traders, SHG members, students, auto drivers, construction workers and government staff, complemented by secondary data from Karnataka state reports and national surveys. The findings present a mixed picture: while smartphone penetration is reasonably high among working-age men and youth, meaningful digital use for banking, healthcare, grievance redressal and livelihood improvement remains limited for women, senior people and daily wage workers. Language, digital literacy, trust deficits and uneven Common Service centres quality emerge as the principal barriers. The paper concludes with practical, city-specific policy suggestions aimed at making Tumkur a genuine model of inclusive digital growth as India moves toward its 2047 development vision.
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