“I never imagined that I could become a digital warrior for my community. Today, I am not only earning but also helping others access essential services. If I can do it, why not others?” With these powerful words, Soochnapreneur Business Mitra Rakhi Biswas reflects on a journey that has transformed not only her own life…
The Digital Empowerment Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, inaugurated Samriddhi Kendra in Umri Village, Guna District, Madhya Pradesh, in the presence of Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region. More than a ceremonial launch, the initiative represents a critical step…
This edition brings together a set of stories that sit at the intersection of policy, technology, and grassroots transformation, with a special focus on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and its growing role in reshaping rural development outcomes. As India continues to build and scale DPI systems—spanning identity, payments, data exchange, and service delivery the conversation…
The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and its Just AI – Data & Algorithms for Communities initiative actively participated in the India AI Impact Summit 2026, advancing a strong people-centric and Global South perspective on AI governance, safety, and digital public infrastructure. Across multiple high-level engagements, DEF ensured that community voices, grassroots realities, and rights-based frameworks…
Access to essential government services can often be a challenge for rural communities, especially for those who lack digital literacy or resources. Bridging this gap, a recent Digital Yojana Camp organized in Solapur, Maharashtra, demonstrated how targeted grassroots efforts can transform lives. For many villagers, this initiative was more than just a camp, it was…
At the Indian Institute of Crafts & Design (IICD), Jaipur, a one-day seminar brought together artisans, practitioners, and experts to explore how technology can strengthen craft-based enterprises. Organised under the National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP) and supported by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, the workshop created a space for dialogue between tradition and…
In the quiet village of Nowadih, nestled in the Baghmundi Block of Purulia district, a powerful transformation is underway—one driven by knowledge, technology, and the determination of rural women to shape their own futures. An advanced training session conducted through innovative Learning Management System (LMS) tools recently brought together 26 Rural Women Entrepreneurs (RWEs), each…
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…