Last Mile Inclusivity: SoochnaPreneurs’ Drive for Social Security

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Published on: February 6, 2024

“SoochnaPreneurs in North Bengal tea gardens address the lack of Aadhaar and PAN cards crucial for social protection. Organising camps in Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, Alipurduar, and Darjeeling, they bridge gaps, ensuring inclusive access to government schemes and social security programs, paving the way for a more equitable future.”

In West Bengal, Aadhaar and PAN cards are lifelines for social protection, but more than half of North Bengal’s tea garden workers lacked these crucial documents. Aadhaar ensures unique identification, preventing duplication, while PAN serves as both a financial tool and identification.

These cards are integral to Direct Benefit Transfer, linking to bank accounts for subsidy delivery, minimising fraud. In tea garden areas, wage payments and benefits are streamlined. Crucially, they’re required for government schemes, social security programs, and subsidy initiatives, ensuring benefits reach genuine recipients.

Recognising the gap, 16 SoochnaPrenuers organised camps in North Bengal, updating Aadhaar details in Gopalpur and registering PAN cards in Bundapani. These grassroots efforts in Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, Alipurduar, and Darjeeling signify a collective drive for inclusivity, bridging gaps in social protection access. The SoochnaPrenuers, with their impactful interventions, pave the way for a more equitable future.