Technology and Policy: An Intersection of Ideas for Public Policy

Over the last two decades, the advances in digital technology, particularly information and communication technology (ICT), have transformed the way people, businesses, and governments work, communicate, and transact. The digital divide refers to the difference in the level of access to technology by different sections of society. The variation in digital literacy influences the perceived relevance and value of literacy, which leads to uneven adoption of technology and employability. The research will analyse secondary resources such as newspaper reports, research conducted on the digital divide, the use of technology, and government policies made to reduce the digital divide in our country. The chapter argues for a re-look at the idea of the digital divide, a concept often encountered in development policy related to ICTs, and for expanding our understanding of the social construction of the usage of this technology.