Founder’s Note
In the village of Gurmukh Ki Dhani, Tijara Tehsil, Alwar, Rajasthan, 65-year-old Santo Bai has endured a life of physical hardship and financial insecurity. Living with a disability in both legs, she depends on her government-issued disability pension to survive. But withdrawing that pension each month became a daunting ordeal. With no way to walk on her own, she relied heavily on relatives or neighbours for help, often waiting weeks, even months, just to access her rightful income.
This changed when she learned about the Digital Empowerment Foundation’s (DEF) digital service centre in her area. Upon reaching out, Spoke Coordinator Junaid Khan promptly visited her home, assessed the situation, and checked her pension records. He discovered that three months’ worth of pension had remained untouched. Without delay, he used digital tools to process the withdrawal and handed over the full amount to her.
Tears of relief filled Santo Bai’s eyes as she clutched the much-needed money, no longer dependent on others or delayed by distance. Her story is a powerful reminder of how accessible digital services, when brought to the doorstep, can restore dignity and independence to rural residents, especially the elderly and disabled.
Through DEF’s ongoing initiatives, rural India is being digitally connected in ways that prioritise equity, inclusion, and care.
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