The socioeconomic index of people with disabilities isn’t very encouraging in India, it worsens in case of people from marginalized background. Sudama is an example of that, in the past he faced many hardships, couldn’t find a stable source of income, didn’t have a social status and people always looked at him with pity.
Sudama is an educated man, but with no possible job opportunities he started working in a small grocery store. In spite of his disability, he supported his family all through.
Asha, one of DEF’s field coordinators met Sudama. Upon hearing about the Samarth SoochnaPreneur program Sudama showed his willingness to be a part of it. He was digitally equipped with devices that would help him provide basic digital services in his village. He set up a small centre in the community.
Today Sudama is a strong advocate for accessibility of information; he believes that the benefits must reach to the doors of those entitled to it. He wants to see things change at the ground level and envisions a world where information directly reaches the beneficiary.
With his dedication, he has broken the perception that disabled people cannot serve others. Sudama is now a well-respected man in his community, people have respect for him and look at him as a man with answers to all their questions.