Supporting Communities to Zoom Ahead: Zoom and DEF Expand Digital Inclusion Across Karnataka

When Girja Kushwah opened her digital access center in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, she knew technology alone wouldn't transform her community—it would take human connection. The center became a hub where she, as the digital trustee or "Soochapreneur" in her region, could sit with emerging technology users and help them build opportunity. Tulasi Nayak, a 42-year-old weaver, arrived with exceptional skills but no way to reach buyers beyond her village.

The gap is substantial: 49% of households in rural India are not connected to the internet. And among rural women, 51.6% don't own their own mobile phones, with only 30% able to complete an online transaction successfully*. Yet when rural women do gain digital access, the impact is transformative—89% of those who gain access to online banking have adopted digital payments, proving the barrier isn't capability, it's access and confidence.

These stories reveal a fundamental truth: Socio-economic development happens when people can connect meaningfully to one another—when weavers can connect and share their passion with buyers who appreciate craftsmanship, when farmers can tell their stories to customers who care about sustainability.

Building on Zoom's past work with the Digital Empowerment Foundation and the success of centers like Girga's, 55 new Zoom-powered Digital Access Centers will be opened across rural Karnataka in 2026. These spaces will be more than training facilities—they'll be where community leaders help artisans preserve heritage and build sustainable income through tech-enabled e-commerce.

Access to technology is the foundation for inclusive growth in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world, but it is human connection that turns access into opportunity," said Aparna Bawa, Chief Operating Officer, Zoom. "Through our continued collaboration with DEF, we're helping communities across India build the skills, confidence, and support they need to participate meaningfully and thrive in the digital economy, wherever they are.

As Zoom and DEF expand this work together, aiming to reach 110,000 people across Karnataka over the next 12 months, we're reminded that digital transformation is ultimately about human transformation. It's about an entrepreneur finding confidence, artisans building economic power, and gaining skills and community. Because behind every video call, every digital storefront, every online transaction, there are people—seeing each other, believing in each other, lifting each other up. That's where real opportunity begins.

"Our continued collaboration with Zoom is helping to bridge India's digital divide from the ground up while building a digital dividend for the most excluded communities," said Osama Manzar, Founder & Director, Digital Empowerment Foundation. "By combining DEF's grassroots reach with Zoom's technology and resources, we're empowering communities to connect and build sustainable livelihoods."

Learn more about DEF's powerful work here.

Sources

Internet in India Report 2025, released by Internet and Mobile Association of India and KANTAR
Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom, 2025 (CMS-T) released by the National Statistics Office (NSO)