Google Assistant is an artificial intelligence–powered virtual assistant developed by Google that is primarily available on mobile and smart home device. Google Assistant can engage in two-way conversations. DEF has partnered with Google and have Selected Assistant Community Leads (ACLs) to drive digital literacy initiative with access to information with Google Assistant. “Assistant Community Leads…
On the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Smartpur teams across 100 locations in India ensured awareness, tackled myths and taboos surrounding menstruation through discussions and activities both online and offline. The team of Kurumalai, TamilNadu, showed solidarity by wearing bracelet made up of beads. They further discussed about the importance of Menstrual Hygiene Day along with the…
India has been under lockdown since March 24, 2020, to break the spread of Covid-19 infection. While it is the only solution to avoid community spread, many like migrant workers, marginalised communities and poorest of the poor are adversely affected due to the lack of information, livelihood and connectivity. Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) launched the…
The global healthcare crisis has led to the decline of multiple sectors across countries and communities. Stories about families unable to perform last rights, hospitals reaching patient capacity, unavailability of hospital beds, exhausted and overworked healthcare workers, migrants travelling long distances to reach home, among gut wrenching incidents of apathy have made our realities somber.…
Rahul from Raybaka, Rajasthan, is a differently-abled person whose family sustains on pension. But due to the lockdown the banks are open for limited time so he was unable to withdraw money. He then called up our digital center co-ordinator Irfan and sort his help. He asked him not to worry and immediately went to…
The lockdown has led to a halt in many income generating activities, affecting the marginalised and underprivileged the most. Meanwhile, government has given a relaxation to the MGNREGA workers so that they can resume their work and earn a basic livelihood to sustain amid the pandemic. But due to lack of digital infrastructure and hampered…
On one hand the Covid-19 crisis has put a halt in income generating activities for many people across the country, but on the other it has also helped create alternate livelihood opportunities for many. DEF’s Smartpur center in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh trained local women on how to stitch masks with minimum resources. The team was…
Aslam Khan, a farmer from Alwar, Rajasthan had very little place for technology in his life. He did not even have a smartphone until recently. With no formal education, Aslam cannot read or write. Even after purchasing a phone he found it tough to use since operating it involved a lot or typing and reading…
Prabhu, a 29 year old digital entrepreneur has been working in the district of West Champaran, Bihar, as a DEF representative from the past few years. As a digitally equipped SoochnaPreneur (Information Entrepreneur) he has been diligently serving the people in his village Fachkahar by providing access to digital services and ensuring government entitlements. When…
“There is a crisis of a condition that has happened in our lives as the members of the human society. The condition being that we are now isolated and our regular interaction suddenly disrupted. While our economic activity has stopped and we are adjusting by connecting digitally, this disruption in human interference has given a…