Pratap Singh, a resilient resident of Alwar, Rajasthan, has defied physical limitations to become a beacon of support for his community through his SoochnaPreneur center, established in 2019. Despite being 81% disabled in his legs and unable to walk, Pratap’s unwavering dedication and trustworthiness have earned him a special place in the hearts of the…
As I stand at the threshold of this remarkable journey chronicled within the pages of this book, there is a profound sense of admiration and gratitude towards the digital leaders and heroes who have shaped the narrative of rural empowerment and digital innovation in our society. This newsletter is an odyssey into the heart of…
The Digital Empowerment Foundation has been building a cadre of information providers, fact-checkers, myth-busters and digital service providers over the last 20 years to empower rural and under-served communities across India. This has been done through DEF’s flagship program SoochnaPreneur. The SoochnaPreneur program has now reached 10,000 villages through 2,000 SoochnaPreneurs across 26 states in…
After the successful completion of the full-fledged survey, the study has entered in the second phase of the project that involves conducting a large-scale enterprise survey of industry leaders and workshops with industries/enterprises/governments to explore options and pitfalls associated with each alternate sector and how to enhance the growth of these sectors. The study seeks to…
Written by Sana Afreen Published on: March 29, 2023 Bharti Nishad, a 15-year-old girl from Mangsha village in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, is a student gearing up for her class 10 board exams. She represents a crucial demographic that urgently needs to transition from using commercial sanitary pads to more sustainable alternatives. Bharti is optimistic about the…
Written by Sana Afreen Published on: March 29, 2023 Digital didi Asma Bibi trains herself through Skillbot and empowers her community with safer menstrual practices. Asma Bibi from Nabakantapur, Murshidabad has been working with the Digital Empowerment Foundation as a Digital Didi for two years. During the capacity-building training, Asma initially struggled to understand the…
In the quaint village of Tilpura in Nahaamau, (Barabanki, UP) there lived a determined young man named Deshraj, son of Shri Sohan Lal, aged 20. Despite facing financial hardships and grappling with the challenges of life, Deshraj’s family relied on laborious work for their sustenance. Their meager income barely met their needs, making every rupee…
Executive Summary- This report delves into the critical nexus between Aadhaar information and government schemes, emphasizing its indispensable role in securing entitlements for citizens. The government mandates Aadhaar updation and enrollment as a crucial verification step for citizens seeking linkages to various schemes. However, a significant challenge persists, with more than half of the tea…
Written by Community Member Shandal Kumar Edited by Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: March 29, 2023 Shandal Kumar, a community member from Deoria, Bihar expresses his experience at the Soochna Adhikar Kendra where he was able to access various digital services. I am employed as a Junior Technician Trainee at Power Grid Corporation of India…
By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: March 29, 2023 Rural Women Entrepreneurs taking charge of their finances and becoming financially independent. The Rural Women Entrepreneurs (RWE’s) identified in various districts of Assam are facing access related issues in the field of finance. Financial inclusion being an important component towards building a strong business ecosystem to…