This publication presents stories that showcase how improved connectivity has transformed lives—especially of women and girls—in rural communities of India.

It presents the contributions of the Asian Development Bank’s Rural Connectivity Investment Program (RCIP) in five states: Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Enhanced connectivity has improved the quality of life in the five RCIP states and contributed to a range of socioeconomic benefits for the rural communities served. It has also helped advance development goals intrinsic to sustainable and inclusive growth.