In a major global recognition of India\u2019s efforts to harness digital infrastructure for driving inclusive growth in rural areas, Samriddh Gram<\/strong><\/em>:<\/strong><\/em> <\/em>Integrated Phygital Service Delivery Model Enabled by BharatNet<\/strong><\/em>, an initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has been selected as a nominee for the prestigious WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) Prizes 2026 <\/strong>under the Action Line AL C6: Enabling Environment<\/strong> category<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Built on the backbone of BharatNet, the Samriddh Gram initiative establishes Samriddhi Kendras<\/strong> as one-stop community hubs delivering integrated \u201cphygital\u201d services that combine physical infrastructure with digital platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through these Kendras, rural citizens gain seamless access to essential services across healthcare, education, agriculture, governance, financial inclusion, and e-commerce. High-speed broadband, FTTH connectivity, and public Wi-Fi enable transformative use cases such as telemedicine, smart classrooms, digital governance services, and technology-enabled agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initiative demonstrates how telecom infrastructure can move beyond connectivity to become a catalyst for social and economic empowerment. Early outcomes indicate improved access to services, reduced travel time and costs, enhanced digital literacy, and increased livelihood opportunities for rural communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Designed as a scalable and sustainable model, the project is driven through a community-based entrepreneurial framework, making it replicable across diverse geographies in India and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n