Article
Impact of Digital India on the Performance of Women-Driven Micro-Enterprises in Sikkim: An Empirical Exploration
The study evaluates the impact of the Digital India program on women-run micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sikkim, using primary survey data from 2000 respondents. Digital India aims to enhance internet access, digital literacy, and e-governance, particularly benefiting women entrepreneurs in remote regions. The analysis employs descriptive statistics and econometric methods, revealing that around 60% of surveyed businesses used Digital India tools, leading to significantly higher revenue, profits, and employment for adopters than for non-adopters. The findings highlight the potential of Digital India to empower women-led MSMEs, while also identifying challenges such as digital literacy gaps and infrastructure limitations. Recommendations include targeted training and financial support to enhance digital tool adoption, thereby contributing to understanding digital transformation in developing contexts and its differential effects on genders.