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Parvez Alam is an inspiring example of how digital technology can elevate rural business initiatives. He has grown from a tiny community service provider to a vibrant digital entrepreneur as Spoke Coordinator at the Shababpur Smartpur Centre, which is supported by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF).
His journey with DEF began as part of the Smartpur programme, which promotes last-mile delivery of governance and financial services. In FY 2021–2022 alone, Parvez’s CSC-based income reflected steady monthly growth, ranging between ₹16,500 and ₹24,900. His consistent performance was recognised on 16th July 2022, when he was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for his outstanding service under DIGI-PAY during CSC Diwas in Uttar Pradesh.
Parvez’s success did not go unnoticed. With support from the district administration, he was allocated another CSC centre, expanding his operations. Today, alongside digital governance and financial services, he is setting up online/offline coaching classes and has obtained a service licence to distribute gas cylinders, further diversifying his enterprise and meeting local needs.
He proudly shares, “The work that could have taken ten years, with Smartpur’s support, I’ve achieved in just two—and I’m still expanding.”
Barabanki itself is witnessing a quiet digital revolution. DEF’s Smartpur initiative has catalysed a culture of entrepreneurship in villages like Shababpur. Local youth, once limited to agriculture or wage labour, are now offering digital services and formal financial solutions. In one such village, a DEF-supported entrepreneur has scaled operations to a monthly income of ₹6 lakh, hired six team members, and is now being approached by banks to act as local Points of Contact. The Panchayat, too, relies on them for essential documentation and citizen support.
Parvez’s story is not an isolated one—it represents the shift DEF has sparked across Barabanki. With the right infrastructure, training, and local partnerships, digital entrepreneurs are not only becoming self-reliant but are also redefining rural development from within their communities.
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