Disconnected Lives: A Comparative Study of Digital Divide Among Adult Women in Tintukura and Bengenabari Villages, Assam

Digital divide remains a pressing concern in India's rural landscape, disproportionately affecting women due to intersecting factors such as gender, socio-economic status, and geography. This study, titled "Disconnected Lives: A Comparative Study of Digital Divide Among Adult Women in Tintukura and Bengenabari Villages, Assam," explores the extent, causes, and consequences of digital exclusion among adult women in two demographically distinct villages. Using a comparative Case Study approach, data were collected through structured interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys conducted with 100 adult women—50 from each village. The research highlights significant disparities in digital access, literacy, and utilization patterns, influenced by variations in infrastructure, education levels, household income, and socio-cultural norms. Tintukura showed relatively better access due to its proximity to urban centers and the presence of government interventions, whereas women in Bengenabari faced greater digital exclusion. The study underscores how digital inequality not only limits access to information and services but also reinforces existing gender-based disadvantages. Findings call for targeted digital inclusion policies, community-based training initiatives, and gender-sensitive infrastructure planning to bridge the rural-urban and gendered digital divide. This study provides a picture to the growing discourse on digital rights and equity, emphasizing the need for localized and intersectional approaches to digital empowerment.