ROLE OF INFORMATION LITERACY AND INFORMATION ACCESS FOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT

Inclusive development emphasizes equitable growth that ensures no individual orcommunity is left behind in the progress of society. In today’s knowledge-driven era,information literacy and access to information serve as crucial enablers of empowerment,education, and socio-economic development. This paper examines the role of informationliteracy and equitable access to information in fostering inclusive development. It explores theconcepts of information literacy, digital divide, and information access, highlighting theirrelevance in education, governance, healthcare, and marginalized communities.The study further investigates challenges such as technological barriers, lack ofinfrastructure, language diversity, and policy gaps that hinder information inclusion. Throughcase studies of initiatives such as India’s National Digital Library, community informationcenters, and global movements like UNESCO’s Information for All Programme (IFAP), thepaper demonstrates practical pathways toward inclusion. The research concludes thatinformation literacy and access are not mere academic pursuits but catalysts for sustainable andinclusive socio-economic transformation.