Only 1/3rd of women in India use the Internet.

By Raif Karerat

WASHINGTON, DC: A new survey conducted by technology titan Google Inc. has revealed only one-third of the total Indian population with access to the internet are women.

The survey also indicated 49 percent of women do not see any reason to access the internet at all.

“While there is low awareness about the benefits of Internet amongst women in India, there are many who want to get online to succeed in life,” said Sandeep Menon, head of marketing for Google India.

The study, titled “Women & Technology,” surveyed 828 Indian women whose ages ranged from 8-years-old to 55 and determined connection issues, affordability, and time are the key issues preventing Indian women from embracing the internet on a larger scale, reported Gizbot.

Many respondents indicated they viewed internet usage as a leisure activity that they did not have time due to their obligations as a domestic engineer.

The survey also looked at income and demographic differences between internet users and non-users. Indian women who go online tend to have slightly higher incomes, according to India Today.

Others said they might use the internet more if they had more privacy, and the report underscored the notion that smartphones and internet cafes could be a cheaper, more private way for Indian women to access the world wide web.

Along with the survey report, Google also released a short film with the goal of inspiring young members of the digital age to get their mothers online.

“We are working with various partners to help spread awareness about the benefits of being online amongst women. We have launched a new film to inspire young digital natives to bring their mothers online,” Menon said. “There are large number of educated women in India with internet access in their households, but they still do not use the internet. We are making an appeal to their children to hold their mother’s hand as she discovers a new world online,” he concluded.