My thoughts on local insurance and healthcare system in India

In India, the digital revolution is still in progress in the fields of public welfare, especially in the fields of social insurance and healthcare. There is no single method used to address public welfare in India. Instead, many schemes and initiatives are run by the Government, such as the Employee Provident Fund Organisation, the Employee State Insurance scheme, Jyoti Bhima Yojana, Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana etc., Different initiatives have been launched to address different sections of people in the country. Sometimes, Government employees and private sector employees are also differentiated under these schemes.

As of today, platforms like the Employee Provident Fund Organisation as well as Ayushman Bharat Yojana offer major services such as checking balance, making claims, tracking contributions, locating network hospitals etc., online, which were earlier dependent on a lot of paperwork and documentation. These platforms also facilitate direct deposit of funds to individuals’ bank accounts without needing to visit the office. All these developments are the result of digitalisation over the years.

Prominent development in this field is the Government’s effort to build a Universal Social Registry wherein individuals’ social and economic details are safely stored and easily accessible. This would help in processing welfare benefits much faster, which would in turn, offer a timely benefit to the citizens. Also, predictive analysis is also being implemented to detect and cancel fraudulent claims and reroute new documentation requests wherever documentation is insufficient.  With all these measures, the future of social welfare looks promising in India.

While highlights of the digital services are explained above, it is important to note the pros of such digitalisation. These digital services will help in faster processing of data, reduce human error, as well as increase transparency. With the online services, applications and claims can be made from any place in the country without the need to visit the office. However, this digitalization also comes with its own challenges. Since digital literacy is low in India, many rural areas are still not availing of these services. Also, the lack of internet access in many rural areas is a big challenge that needs to be addressed to achieve digital success. Moreover, there is also a general concern about data privacy and protection since information is highly personal and sensitive. Overall, India’s journey of digitalisation in the field of social insurance and the health sector is far from perfect, but is in the right direction and we are hopeful it will transform lives in the near future.

Comparing Digital Marketplaces with Local Shops: Are Online Prices and Information Reliable?

In recent years, digital marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Ajio have become increasingly popular among Indian consumers. After comparing the prices of several common items—such as electronics, books, and clothes —on platforms like Amazon and Myntra with those available in local shops, it is evident that online prices are often more competitive. For instance, smartphones and other electronics are usually cheaper online due to frequent discounts and large-scale logistics operations. However, local shops weigh better when it comes to post-purchase maintenance, warranty etc., When I compared a phone price on Amazon with an offline shop, I could see that there is a price variation of around 20% less on Amazon when compared to the shop due to discounts being offered on Amazon. On the other hand, when I did the same comparison for the clothes, though the price of a similar dress in Myntra was less compared to the shop, I was able to negotiate the price with the seller and get it for the same price. There is always room for negotiation, physically which also comes with the advantage of being able to check quality as well. So it entirely depends on what type of product we are looking for before deciding on the offline or online option to buy.

When it comes to clothes, platforms like Myntra, Ajio provide more options than in a local shop, with many more details on cloth type, size, and reviews as well. The information provided is generally adequate, with filters, photos, policies, and verified customer feedback to guide purchasing decisions. From my experience, these services are quite reliable, though it is always wise to read reviews carefully and check cancellation policies before making a booking. However, relying on others’ opinions may not always lead to positive results, and sometimes visiting local shops might give a better purchase satisfaction.

A Digital Service from My Field

As a tax consultant, I have assisted many individuals in their return filing each year, and throughout my journey, I have witnessed how digitalisation has changed the process of filing returns. Earlier, we used to analyse all the paper documents to arrive at total income, eligible deductions, and then conclude on taxes payable. However, with the process of digitalisation, verification of paper documents has been completely ruled out, and a single click pulls data from all sources into a single page.

I have used software called Cleartax, which helps in gathering all the information of the individual using the Unique Identification Number and certain permissions. It calculates the income, verifies eligible deductions, and provides the final tax calculations along with the detailed breakup of each item. It is then left to the individual’s choice to make changes if required to proceed to the next step of filing. I felt that this software saves a lot of human time in gathering information, analysing the data, and collating all such data into a report. We can now directly focus on the tax interpretations and proceed with filing directly.

Digitalization and the Digital Gap: Risks for the Disconnected

While the world is celebrating the digitalisation process, there is also a digital gap that needs to be addressed. This is nothing but the gap between people who can easily access digital services and those who cannot. Many new initiatives and schemes are launched directly online, which cover the majority of the citizens, but the people who have no knowledge of the internet and digital services are not able to receive such benefits due to the digital gap. Age, education, and location also play a vital role in taking advantage of such digitalisation. Though they are willing to avail these benefits, these hindrances are stopping them from availing the benefits. Digital illiteracy, psychological barriers, and poor connectivity – all these issues need to be addressed to eliminate the digital gap. While the Government is launching new digital services, they should simultaneously launch programs in educating the people and providing better infrastructure to enable them to be the recipients of such digital benefits too.

Comments on other students’ articles

I have commented on following blogs

https://blogi.savonia.fi/johannassite/digi-citizen/

https://blogi.savonia.fi/leokoivistoinen/digi-citizen/

DIGI CITIZEN

Digital competence test

I have taken digital competence test and below are my results

Below are the results of the Digital Competence Wheel :

Information 78 %

Communication 88 %

Production 69 %

Safety 81 %

This competence test showcases that I am good in communication and safety, and in information handling. But there is a room for improvement in digital content creation.

Self evaluation

This module has helped in going deeper in understanding how the social welfare system works in India and who is actually receiving such benefits. While we have been praising digitalisation, the digital gap is a major concern that needs to be addressed. For digital services to be truly transformative, they must be supported by robust infrastructure, widespread education, and strong data protection measures. As someone navigating the space between traditional practices and emerging digital systems, I recognize the importance of balancing both to move forward effectively in this evolving environment. Also, in this digital era, even though we feel that we are aware of all the digital services, the Digital Competence Test made me realise that I have a lot of scope for improvement in the digital area.