Life took an unexpected turn for Dasari Chandrakala when a tragic accident forced her to leave her job at a bank. What followed was a period of immense hardship. With both she and her husband living with physical disabilities, the family struggled to make ends meet, relying solely on their pensions for survival. “I was…
As conversations around technology grow louder at global forums, it is equally important to ground them in the realities of everyday lives. This edition brings together two seemingly different but deeply connected worlds high-level dialogues on artificial intelligence and grassroots stories of digital empowerment from rural India. From platforms like the AI Impact Summit, we…
“The Platform Question” is an anthology that emerges from a global collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and activists who come together to critically reflect on the expanding role of digital platforms in an increasingly digitized world. As platformization continues to reshape economies, governance structures, and everyday social interactions, it introduces new forms of regulation, control, and…
“Before opening my digital centre, my life was limited to my home and weaving. Today, I help my community and aid people in accessing services closer to their doorstep. I feel blessed that my husband has supported me throughout this journey, and proud that I could even conduct a training session on photography and social…
In Telangana, Ikat weavers have long been custodians of a rich craft tradition, creating textiles that carry culture, identity, and generations of skill. Yet, like many artisan communities, their access to markets has remained limited, often mediated by middlemen and constrained by geography. Today, that is beginning to shift. Through targeted digital training, these artisans…
In the quiet villages of Assam, digital services were once a distant dream. Residents often had to travel nearly 15 kilometers to access something as basic as a pension form or a ration card application. For many, especially women, the cost, time, and effort involved meant that essential services remained out of reach. Among those…
For Mohammed Jahangir, a spinal cord injury once placed significant limits on mobility, making access to work and independence feel distant. But access is not just about physical movement, it is about whether systems are designed to include or exclude. With the right digital infrastructure in place, his story began to change. Through the Hope…
As digital technologies continue to reshape how we live, work, and connect, it is becoming increasingly clear that the question is no longer just about access but about who controls, benefits from, and is represented within these systems. This edition brings together diverse perspectives that explore the evolving digital landscape, from global debates on platform…
“My name is Neerudu Paramesh, and I am from Buddaram Village, Nalgonda. This journey has taught me that with determination and the right support, any challenge can be overcome.” Paramesh’s story is one of resilience—but more importantly, it is a story of service. After a severe spinal injury in 2020 left him confined to his…
In the lush tea garden communities of Jalpaiguri, where access to essential services has often been limited, a quiet transformation is taking root led by local women stepping into the role of digital changemakers. “Today, we learned about various digital services that we will be providing to community members in our Tea Garden. Services such…