Founder’s Note
In the village of Babudih in Bokaro, Jharkhand, lives a woman whose story is as much about resilience as it is about transformation. Sumitra Bala Devi, was married off in childhood but refused to let circumstances clip her wings. With her husband, a driver, struggling to make ends meet for their two children, Sumitra became the anchor of her family. But her vision stretched beyond the four walls of her home. Drawn to social work, she began helping individuals and families around her, addressing their social needs and connecting them to opportunities. Her dream was to empower her community, especially women, so they could stand on their own feet.
Her turning point came when she connected with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF). With support, she set up her own digital center, equipped with the infrastructure to provide e-governance services, digital literacy, and critical digital tools. What started as a modest initiative soon became a hub of transformation. Villagers approached her for income, caste, and residence certificates, pension enrollment, voter and Aadhaar services, and more. Over time, Sumitra provided services to over 900 villagers through her center.
But her greatest contribution lay in her ability to multiply impact. She trained hundreds of village women in digital literacy, many of whom went on to establish their own centers with support from DEF and other organizations. Today, these women not only run services like UID, insurance, pension, and ticket booking but also earn a steady livelihood of ₹5,000–₹10,000 per month. Through her mentorship, Sumitra enabled the creation of 15 small businesses and digital service centers.
Her initiatives extended to the younger generation too. She trained 225 teenage girls on saving habits, menstrual hygiene, nutrition, and health—laying the foundation for a healthier, more confident future. With smart mobile training modules, she brought digital literacy to women in large numbers, helping them understand banking, e-governance, and mobile applications with confidence.
For Sumitra, the journey has been personally transformative too. From earning just ₹5,000 a month, her income has now grown fivefold to ₹25,000 per month, allowing her to support her family and reinvest in community building. But she measures her success not in numbers, rather in the empowerment she sees around her.
Her story is proof that when a woman’s willpower is channeled in the right direction, she can alter the destiny of not just her own family but hundreds of others. Today, Sumitra Bala Devi is more than a digital service provider—she is a role model, mentor, and change-maker, reminding us that true empowerment comes from enabling others to rise alongside you.
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