By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: June 30, 2025 This blog is published by the Just AI – Data and Algorithms for Communities initiative at Digital Empowerment Foundation. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in systems of governance, economy, and daily life, its social impact can no longer be viewed as a secondary concern.…
By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: June 30, 2025 As India moves away from coal, how do we ensure communities are not left behind? This edition highlights DEF’s journey in Jharkhand’s coal regions — blending research, digital empowerment, and community leadership to build pathways for a just, inclusive transition. Over the last two years, the…
By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: June 30, 2025 Parvez Alam is an inspiring example of how digital technology can elevate rural business initiatives. He has grown from a tiny community service provider to a vibrant digital entrepreneur as Spoke Coordinator at the Shababpur Smartpur Centre, which is supported by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF).…
By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: June 30, 2025 Shankar Prasad Mahto, a 60-year-old resident of Deoria village in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, had long been seeking clarity on various government welfare schemes. Like many elderly citizens in remote rural areas, he was unsure of the eligibility criteria, documentation, and application processes required to access these schemes.…
By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: June 30, 2025 In West Bengal, where talent meets tradition, artisans have been weaving, stitching, carving, and crafting for generations. In rural areas, despite their skills, access to sustainable markets and consistent income has remained elusive. Digikargha, working at the intersection of craft and commerce, has taken a transformative…
By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: June 30, 2025 In the quiet village of Payranga, nestled in Assam’s Kamrup district, Karina Begum quietly sustained herself by stitching traditional garments. A third-generation artisan, Karina inherited the intricate craft of making mekhela chadors, handwoven textiles that carry the rich cultural legacy of Assam. Despite her artistry, her…
By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: June 30, 2025 Just 70–75 kilometres from the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the village of Saidanpur has long remained shadowed by infrastructural gaps and limited opportunities, despite India’s 75 years of independence. Once renowned for its handloom heritage, the village was gradually losing its identity due to neglect,…
By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: June 30, 2025 Kumari Pratima first encountered menstruation when she was 6, but the whispers around it began a year earlier when a friend confided in her using a curious euphemism, “Mamaji aa gaye hain” (Uncle has arrived). At the time, this coded language was the only way young…
By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: June 30, 2025 People often begin to slow down or think of retirement as they approach the age of sixty. However, that is not the case for Bodhi Devi, a sixty-year-old woman from Tilonia, Rajasthan, who has been actively working with Barefoot College for the past three years, ever…
By Digital Empowerment Foundation Published on: June 30, 2025 “In the village of Ajjipura, Karnataka, Akhil Pasha’s Smartpur-Spoke Centre revolutionised rural life by providing essential services, with his role as a Bank Correspondent of SBI, particularly helping individuals like Girish secure vital insurance coverage, saving them time and money while promoting financial inclusion in rural…