Dwarka Jadhav, from Bhopni village in Deoni block of Latur district, Maharashtra comes from a farming household. Before joining SSP, she used to help her husband and in-laws in their 4-acre farm, and take care of household chores. After joining SSP in 2021, she slowly expanded to organic vegetable cultivation and even started a photocopy shop in her home. This is an account of her journey of digital transformation in a rural setting.
By attending SSP’s entrepreneurship and digital literacy training, Dwarka tai learnt how to use mobile applications for maintaining accounts, finding the daily market rate of vegetables online, online banking etc. Using what she learnt, she was able to increase her vegetable sales from Rs.2000 per month to Rs.8000 per month approximately. She credits this increase in sales and income to better financial management using the ‘okcredit’ app, to marketing of produce using social media, and to the use of online payment systems.
In 2022, Dwarka tai used her savings from the successful vegetable business to purchase a photocopy machine, and started the first ‘xerox’ shop in her village. Though she received basic training, she found herself confused and facing problems in operating the machine. In this situation, showing remarkable resourcefulness, Dwarka tai resorted to searching the internet for tutorials, and was able to teach herself how to operate the machine through online training videos. She even repaired the machine using online training manuals on two different occasions when there were minor problems. Today, Dwarka tai makes a profit of around Rs.10,000 per month from her photocopying business alone.
When asked about her future plans, she says, “I want to convert this small xerox business into a fully functioning Grahak Sevak Kendra, where people can conduct basic banking operations, update their Aadhar cards, carry out online applications for schemes and services etc. I am planning to register both my daughter and myself to a computer course after her Board exams get over by next month.”
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
March 8, 2023