Cultura

Barriers to Digital Inclusion in Rural Northeast India: Challenges and Pathways for Inclusive Digital Transformation

VOLUME 23, 2026

The Role of Targeted Infra-popliteal Endovascular Angioplasty to Treat Diabetic Foot Ulcers Using the Angiosome Model: A Systematic Review

VOLUME 6, 2023

Farhana Parbin, Dr. Nazia Parveen

Abstract

Digital inclusion has become an essential component of sustainable rural development, particularly in developing countries where digital technologies are increasingly integrated into governance, education, healthcare, finance, and entrepreneurship. Despite India's rapid progress in digital infrastructure and initiatives such as Digital India and Common Service Centers (CSCs), significant disparities persist across rural regions, especially in the North Eastern Region (NER). This study investigates the barriers to digital inclusion in rural Northeast India by examining infrastructural, socio-economic, educational, institutional, technological, and cultural constraints affecting rural populations. The study adopts a quantitative research design using structured questionnaires administered among beneficiaries of Common Service Centers across selected districts of Northeast India. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis were employed to identify the major determinants influencing digital inclusion. The findings reveal that inadequate internet connectivity, poor digital literacy, low educational attainment, affordability issues, unreliable electricity supply, language barriers, and limited institutional support significantly hinder digital inclusion. Digital literacy and infrastructural availability emerged as the strongest predictors of digital inclusion. The study recommends integrated policy interventions focusing on rural digital infrastructure, localized digital content, capacity building, affordable connectivity, and strengthening the role of CSCs in promoting inclusive digital transformation. The findings contribute to the literature on digital inclusion in geographically disadvantaged regions and provide practical implications for policymakers working toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Keywords : Digital Inclusion; Rural Development; Northeast India; Common Service Centers; Digital Literacy; ICT; Digital Divide.
Erin Saricilar
Lecture in accounting. University of Basrah, College of Administration and Economics, Department of Accounting.

Abstract

Atherosclerotic disease significantly impacts patients with type 2 diabetes, who often present with recalcitrant peripheral ulcers. The angiosome model of the foot presents an opportunity to perform direct angiosome-targeted endovascular interventions to maximise both wound healing and limb salvage. A systematic review was performed, with 17 studies included in the final review. Below-the-knee endovascular interventions present significant technical challenges, with technical success depending on the length of lesion being treated and the number of angiosomes that require treatment. Wound healing was significantly improved with direct angiosome-targeted angioplasty, as was limb salvage, with a significant increase in survival without major amputation. Indirect angioplasty, where the intervention is applied to collateral vessels to the angiosomes, yielded similar results to direct angiosome-targeted angioplasty. Applying the angiosome model of the foot in direct angiosome-targeted angioplasty improves outcomes for patients with recalcitrant diabetic foot ulcers in terms of primary wound healing, mean time for complete wound healing and major amputation-free survival.
Keywords : Diabetic foot ulcer, angiosome, angioplasty