Google India launches 'Helping Women Get Online' campaign

With women comprising just 30 percent of the online population in India, Internet giant Google Wednesday said it aims to help 50 million women in the country go digital in a year.

"India has over 200 million Internet users and the number is growing. India is on its way to become the second-largest Internet market overtaking US. But, only one-third or about 60 million of the online users are women," Google India MD Rajan Anandan told reporters in New Delhi.

Internet can play a very important role in empowering women in India and help them to transform their lives, he added.

"Internet can help women achieve self esteem, express their views freely, open up new opportunities and help them to gain education. Our new campaign aims to bring 50 million women online in the next one year so that they can reap the benefits too," Anandan said.

According to industry estimates, the number of Internet users in the country is expected to touch 280 million in the next one year.

Google India has partnered HUL, Axis Bank and Intel as part of the campaign.

"Along with our partners, we will create awareness about the benefits of Internet for women, educate them to use Internet to improve their lives and enable easy access points across the country," Anandan said.

Google has designed a website www.hwgo.com, which will host content covering the basics of Internet and content relevant for women, in Hindi and English languages.

The company has also started a toll free helpline number 1800 41 999 77 to help women get answers for their Internet-related queries