TCoE Launches Samriddh Gram Phygital Pilot to Digitally Empower Rural India

In a transformative step toward building a digitally inclusive rural India, the Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCoE) has signed agreements with leading implementation partners to roll out the Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot — a groundbreaking initiative designed to seamlessly integrate physical infrastructure with digital services across rural communities. The program leverages BharatNet connectivity to deliver essential citizen-centric services, bridging the urban-rural digital divide and driving sustainable development at the grassroots level.

A Pioneering 'Phygital' Model for Rural Empowerment

The Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot represents a bold new model of "phygital transformation," merging physical presence with digital platforms to ensure that the benefits of connectivity translate into tangible improvements in the quality of life for rural citizens. By combining on-ground service delivery with high-speed digital access, the initiative aims to make rural communities self-reliant, connected, and empowered.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has identified three pilot villages for this pathbreaking initiative:

• Ari and Umri in Madhya Pradesh

• Chaurawala in Uttar Pradesh

• Narakoduru in Andhra Pradesh

Each of these villages will host a Samriddhi Kendra—a state-of-the-art integrated service hub that serves as the focal point for local citizens to access digital education, healthcare, governance, and economic opportunities.

Partnerships Driving Change

The implementation partners for the pilot include:

• Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) for Ari and Umri (Madhya Pradesh)

• I-Novate Infotech Pvt. Ltd. for Chaurawala (Uttar Pradesh)

• Corpus Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. for Narakoduru (Andhra Pradesh)

The agreements were formally signed by Shri Rajesh Sharma, Director & CEO of TCoE India, and the respective partner organizations in the presence of Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), and Mr. Atul Sinha, Head of the Business Transformation Unit.

Samriddhi Kendras: Hubs of Rural Digital Transformation

Each Samriddhi Kendra will act as a comprehensive service hub, integrating multiple sectors through digital innovation. The range of services includes:

1. Education and Skilling

• Smart classrooms equipped with AR/VR-based immersive learning tools

• Digital literacy programs aligned with Skill India and PM eVidya initiatives

• Online skilling and certification modules for youth and women

2. Agriculture

• IoT-based soil testing and precision agriculture tools

• Drone-assisted crop monitoring and smart irrigation systems

• Direct market linkage platforms for farmers via digital marketplaces

3. Healthcare

• Telemedicine and virtual consultations with doctors and specialists

• Health ATMs for basic diagnostics and preventive care

• Integration with national platforms such as Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

4. e-Governance

• Assisted access to citizen documentation, public service portals, and grievance redressal systems

• Training for rural entrepreneurs to provide Common Service Centre (CSC)-based support

5. E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship

• Integration with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

• Local product promotion through digital storefronts

• Support for micro and women-led enterprises to access national e-marketplaces

6. Financial Inclusion

• Digital banking, UPI-based payments, and microcredit facilities

• Financial literacy sessions and access to government schemes

7. Connectivity Backbone

• Enhanced BharatNet FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home) connectivity

• Establishment of Village Area Networks and public Wi-Fi hotspots for universal access

Enabling Inclusive Growth Through Connectivity

The Secretary (Telecom), Dr. Neeraj Mittal, highlighted the national importance of the initiative, describing it as a replicable model for rural digital transformation. He emphasized that the pilot must be implemented with excellence, accountability, and long-term sustainability to ensure its successful scaling across India.

Dr. Mittal urged all partners to focus on creating measurable impact in education, health, and livelihood outcomes, while ensuring that the Samriddh Kendras evolve into community-owned digital ecosystems that empower rural citizens to take charge of their development journey.

Institutional Collaboration and Future Scale-Up

The Samriddh Gram pilot underscores the collaborative efforts of DoT, TCoE India, and its strategic partners in realizing the vision of Digital India 2.0 — one that moves beyond connectivity to true digital inclusion. The program also reflects the government's commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat by ensuring that the benefits of emerging technologies reach the last mile.

Following successful implementation and impact evaluation, the model is expected to be scaled up nationwide, with plans to establish hundreds of Samriddhi Kendras across India's 6 lakh villages, transforming rural digital service delivery forever.

Empowering Every Village, Every Citizen

Through this initiative, TCoE and DoT are redefining the contours of rural development — from connectivity infrastructure to social transformation. The Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot embodies the vision of an empowered, connected, and digitally confident rural India, where technology becomes a tool of opportunity and equity.

As Dr. Mittal aptly stated, the goal is not just to bridge the digital divide, but to create digital dividends for every citizen—ensuring that no village is left behind in India's journey toward a future-ready digital economy.