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…
“Before opening my digital centre, my life was limited to my home and weaving. Today, I help my community and aid people in accessing services closer to their doorstep. I feel blessed that my husband has supported me throughout this journey, and proud that I could even conduct a training session on photography and social…
In Telangana, Ikat weavers have long been custodians of a rich craft tradition, creating textiles that carry culture, identity, and generations of skill. Yet, like many artisan communities, their access to markets has remained limited, often mediated by middlemen and constrained by geography. Today, that is beginning to shift. Through targeted digital training, these artisans…
In the quiet villages of Assam, digital services were once a distant dream. Residents often had to travel nearly 15 kilometers to access something as basic as a pension form or a ration card application. For many, especially women, the cost, time, and effort involved meant that essential services remained out of reach. Among those…
For Mohammed Jahangir, a spinal cord injury once placed significant limits on mobility, making access to work and independence feel distant. But access is not just about physical movement, it is about whether systems are designed to include or exclude. With the right digital infrastructure in place, his story began to change. Through the Hope…