Help remote communities benefit from digital services

Problem -

Although people in rural areas now have smart phones and affordable data packs most, especially in remote villages, are denied access to the digital world. To address this gap, the Government has set up one CSC (Common Service Centre) per cluster of 6 villages to provide essential public utility services like Aadhar, certificate registrations and online ticket booking etc., However the access to CSCs on a timely basis remains a challenge for many villages and communities, particularly during calamities like COVID. 

Solution -

TIDE has conceptualized Village Enterprise Kiosks (VEKs) for communities that do not have easy access to Government CSCs. These VEKs would be managed by local youth trained by TIDE in offering not only essential public services but also have other income generating digital services on offer. About 60+ such services have been identified and skill training for identified youth is underway.  Not only will the VEKs solve accessibility issues to digital services but will also provide employment to local youth through the digital services. 

Impact:

• Livelihood for rural youth through digital skills 
• Access to digital services for rural communities
• Boost to rural economy
• Digital India goals are fulfilled

Categories:

Basic Enterprise supporting basic Kiosk infrastructure along with fingerprint scanner to access essential public utility services using the mobiles owned by Kiosk agents. Cost - Rs. 3000.  

Standard Enterprise will be supported with a computer along with basic infrastructure and fingerprint scanner thus enabling access to many more digital services.  Cost - Rs 10000

Digital Village Enterprise will be a self sufficient centre with infrastructure, computer with UPS power back up , printer and scanner. Cost - Rs 15000