The Samriddh Gram project of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has been declared the Global Winner at the ITU WSIS Prizes 2026 under the ‘Enabling Environment’ category, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced on Thursday. The Samriddh Gram project received global recognition for advancing rural digital transformation through BharatNet-powered phygital services across villages.
In a post on X, the minister said this is also a global recognition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an inclusive Digital India, where the benefits of technology reach every citizen, including those in our remotest villages.
Samriddh Gram project wins ITU WSIS Prizes 2026 global recognition
“Powered by Bharat Net, ‘Samriddh Gram’ transforms connectivity into opportunity, delivering healthcare, education and digital banking and livelihood services through village-level Samriddhi Kendras,” informed Scindia.
This feat also reaffirms India’s leadership in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), underscoring that solutions built for India’s needs can serve as scalable models for the world.
“My heartfelt congratulations to all the stakeholders behind the achievement,” said the minister.
Samriddh Gram project brings healthcare, education and digital services to villages
The minister recently said that the Integrated Phygital Service Centre will help realise the vision of PM Modi to deliver healthcare, education, agriculture, financial and e-governance services to people living in rural and remote areas.
The minister inaugurated the Samriddhi Kendra, an integrated “phygital” (physical plus digital) service centre, at Umri village in the Guna district in March under the Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot Initiative of the Department of Telecommunications.
BharatNet powers rural digital transformation under Samriddh Gram
The initiative uses high-speed broadband connectivity created under BharatNet to convert digital infrastructure into a platform for delivering citizen-centric services in rural India.
Scindia said that the initiative aims to bring new opportunities directly to villages by combining technology with essential public services. “Farmers will be able to access real-time insights on soil moisture, nutrients, and crop health through digital tools, making agriculture smarter and more productive,” he stated.
Essential government services, from certificates to e-banking, will now be available within the ‘Samriddh Gram’ itself. This is truly a programme of the future, one that ensures progress reaches every village and every citizen, Scindia explained.
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