Palamu awaits change:- Community Information Resource Centres CIRCs) are community-oriented information hubs built to create digitally literate, information-empowered and equitable communities across the country. DEF opened its latest CIRC in Palamu village of Jharkhand, where a local entrepreneur named Awadesh Kumar has taken the responsibility to run the centre with a revenue model. With the vision to make community members digitally literate and digitally enabled, Awadesh has already begun mobilising the community and facilitating access to government schemes and services for a sustainable future for himself and the community.

 Outcome of Digisupport:-The Digi Support project has reached out to 81 primary and secondary villages across 12 states and empowered various stakeholders with digital financial tools. The project has directly impacted 7110 individuals and indirectly benefitted 35,550 community members. The DigiPrerak, who led the activities on ground, mobilized and trained the community in using an ATM, opening a bank account, filling, a cheque book and introducing the tools of internet/mobile banking. Among the direct beneficiaries, 2833 were women comprising of farmers and housewives. 2326 farmers were made aware of digital-financial tools in the context of agriculture and allied sectors.

 Standing as a pillar of change:- Preeti Kumari, an Internet Saathi from Totah village, Bihar, was recently awarded with ‘Visionary of India 2018’ trophy by the Khwab Foundation. She was recognised for her excellent work towards empowering women in digital literacy in the rural areas of Bihar where she worked towards digital literacy under the Internet Saathi project, an initiative of Google and Tata Trusts implemented by DEF in the state. Engaged since 2017 with the project, Preeti was recently appointed as the supervisor of Lalanganj and Vaishali Block where she also runs an art and craft shop, which she fondly calls Kalyani Hand Made Jewellery.