Samriddh Gram: Integrated Phygital Service Delivery Model Enabled by BharatNet, the flagship project of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has reached a significant international milestone with its declaration as the Global Winner of the WSIS Prizes 2026 in Action Line C6 – Enabling Environment. India was honoured for its groundbreaking work in utilising digital public infrastructure to uplift rural areas. The announcement was made during the WSIS Forum 2026 in Geneva.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) established the esteemed World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize to recognise initiatives that successfully use ICTs for long-term sustainability. This accolade further establishes India as a frontrunner in the field of inclusive digital transformation on a worldwide scale.
The accolade, according to Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, is a further step towards Digital India’s goal of making technology accessible to all Indians, even in the most rural areas. This, he said, is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda. He stressed that BharatNet is using Samriddhi Kendras at the rural level to transform digital connectivity into tangible opportunity.
Samriddh Gram is an all-inclusive community that brings together digital commerce, e-Government, healthcare, education, agriculture, and financial inclusion over the BharatNet broadband network. Samriddhi Kendras offer a range of services, including telemedicine, health ATMs, smart classrooms, digital support for local entrepreneurs, banking, FTTH connection, and IoT-enabled farming solutions.
The program highlights the positive impact of last-mile telecom connectivity on society and the economy, going beyond just providing access to the internet. More than 2.17 lakh Gram Panchayats have been made service-ready through BharatNet, which is empowering rural communities with crucial public services and helping to bridge India’s digital divide.
Samriddh Gram was named the World Champion in its category following a stringent worldwide review that included expert screening and more than 2.2 million votes cast online. The award is a further testament to India’s resolve to develop digital infrastructure with the people at the center and to design replicable models of inclusive rural development that other nations may learn from.
Image: India Verve
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