FLIP: To Flip the Status of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)

Residence in an urban area does not guarantee access to the internet facilities, although one might be constantly exposed to its availability, owing to the economic status. Such a population, neither falling under the rural category nor self-reliant urban category, face the challenges of being left out of the spectrum of the internet world. The Functional Literacy Information Program (FLIP) has been designed to target these economically weaker sections (EWS) living in urban areas to impart functional literacy that is as necessary as numerical literacy in the current state of the world. 

FLIP has been implemented in 12 locations. Through DEF literacy centers, functional literacy comprising modules of basic, digital, financial and Covid-19 literacy has been imparted to individuals aged above 14 years for 60 to 70 days (90 hours). During the classes students learnt about basic grammar, soft skills, internet uses and knowledge of net banking and online ticket booking. Over 3,300 students participated in FLIP through online and offline classes and received the certificate of course completion. 

Although the current status of this section living in urban areas is that they cannot access the internet and are unaware about the ways to carry forward the family’s work using the internet, this initiative is aimed at improving the life skills of people from urban areas so that they are equipped to be eligible for better employment opportunities that would improve their economic status. This is done by upskilling and enhancing their knowledge about digital technologies including the use of smartphones in ways that support their day-to-day life and work.