The Department of Telecommunications (DoT)‘s flagship Samriddh Gram: Integrated Phygital Service Delivery Model Enabled by BharatNet has been declared the Global Winner of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2026. The project received the award under Action Line C6: Enabling Environment, presented by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Samriddh Gram
It is the flagship rural digital transformation initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) built on the BharatNet network.
Objective
- Transform rural India through an integrated phygital (physical + digital) service delivery model.
- Convert digital connectivity into meaningful socio-economic development rather than merely providing internet access.
Key Features
Samriddhi Kendras
Village-level one-stop service centres delivering integrated citizen-centric services.
Major Services
- Healthcare: Health ATMs, Teleconsultation, Emergency healthcare services
- Education & Skilling: AR/VR-based learning, Smart classrooms, Digital skill development aligned with government schemes
- Agriculture: Drone support, IoT-based soil testing, Smart irrigation systems
- e-Governance: Documentation support, Assisted access to government services, Grievance redressal
- Financial Inclusion: Digital banking, Digital payment services
- E-Commerce: Digital marketplaces for rural entrepreneurs and Integration with ONDC
Connectivity Backbone
- Built on BharatNet Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) network.
- Supported by: Public Wi-Fi hotspots and Village Area Network (VAN)
Significance
Samriddh Gram demonstrates how telecom infrastructure can become a platform for holistic rural development by integrating: Digital banking, Agriculture, Livelihood generation, Education, Skilling, Healthcare, e-Governance
The model enables:
- Farmers to access modern agricultural technologies.
- Students to benefit from digital education.
- Patients to consult specialists remotely.
- Citizens to access government services locally.
- Rural entrepreneurs to connect with wider digital markets
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes
WSIS Prizes are among the world’s most prestigious awards recognizing projects that effectively use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to promote sustainable development.
Conducted By
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU) — the UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies.
Selection Process
- Projects are selected through: Public voting, International screening, Expert evaluation and Final adjudication by an expert panel.
- Winning a WSIS Prize signifies that the project is among the world’s most impactful ICT-enabled development initiatives.