Finding Access to Computers in Kashmir

By Digital Empowerment foundation

Published on: May 15, 2023

CDERP has been successfully implemented in many locations and DEF found it imperative to introduce it in places where normally, attention to such needs are not paid enough. Lately CDERP has been able to reach many and found a warm acceptance among people residing in Kashmir.

CDERP program was launched in Kashmir to ensure that people are not completely cut off from the digital world. Since the program was introduced, many have found it an invaluable source of information which has opened doors to worlds outside their communities. Teachers, students and locals have been grateful to have access to digital resources which otherwise would be out of reach in normal circumstances without much attention being paid for them to be included in the digital world. 

Muzammil Siddiqui is a hardworking and intelligent student living in Subhanpora, Kupwara in Kashmir. Coming from a poor family, this 13-year old did not have access to computers but has always been yearning to learn about them. CDERP program gave him the opportunity he was looking for. He started learning about computers from the centre. Initially, he has no idea about anything digital. But his hunger to learn made him well versed in the basics and other applications within a span of three months. He currently works on notepad and MS Paint. He is very pleased with his learning and even more excited to learn more in the future. This might be a small step in entering the digital world but a crucial one without which exclusion is bound to happen.