Chandan Singh Banjara, Age-36,Chakdeopur
Information as a means is transforming India into a knowledge economy. The level of awareness in Indians is improving as they are accessing desired information through various digital and non-digital sources. However, there is still a large section of society which is living in information darkness. To digitally connect and empower such vulnerable communities with access to government schemes, DEF is running its Soochna Seva Kendra’s (SSK) in five different Indian states. Now, to escalate its inclusion efforts, DEF recently launched Yojana Bank in West Champaran, Bihar, that will run through SSK’s chain of network.
Yojana Bank will function as an information resource centre for last mile beneficiaries. It will provide information and digital services to access the government welfare schemes and entitlements. To begin with, Yojana Bank has been launched in Gaunaha, Mainatand and Loriya blocks of in West Champaran. These three populous blocks are extremely backward in terms of access to health, education, social security, and livelihood opportunities/services. The residing communities endure additional hardships due to the laid back attitude of the government officials in the region. As a result, most people are living in a grim financial state deprived of their basic rights.
To eradicate the rampant corruption and to bridge the information gap, Yojana Banks will push the use of technology to connect and empower communities living in information darkness. The bank will put community people in the centre of everything and make authorities accountable for their actions.
The Gaunaha branch was inaugurated by Shailendra Kumar, Zila Parishad, West Champaran, who urged to the community members to rise nd use information as a tool to hedge against ignorant life.
In order to expedite the intervention process, SSK’s have also entered an understanding with 25 local panchayats in West Champaran to allow SSK’s to use their space in the block offices. The breakthrough of this magnitude will create a participative, transparent and responsive services system for the community people. The SSK’s established in the block vicinity will be called Panchayat Soochna Seva Kendra’s (PSSK).
Related posts
