Since March is celebrated as Women’s History and Empowerment Month, let’s look at Manisha’s journey in her “smart village”!
Manisha, a resident of the rural village Sihri in Nuh district, faced limitations in pursuing education due to patriarchal norms and financial constraints. In her village, girls typically received limited education, and mobility for girls was discouraged. Despite her initial fading interest in computer learning, Manisha wanted to enroll in a Digital And Life Skills Awareness Center launched by S M Sehgal Foundation through a CSR-supported project. Starting the five-month course in February 2023, she faced initial resistance from her family, but they eventually agreed.
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When Manisha first attended the class, she was modest and unassuming. However, her participation in the sessions sparked a transformation in her character.
~ Priyanka, the trainer at the center
The training encompassed personality development, goal setting, communication skills, gender equality, computer basics, and internet usage. Manisha found the gender equality session impactful and shared the knowledge with her family. This led to a positive transformation in her father’s attitude, who began acknowledging and respecting women’s opinions in the family.
Encouraged by Manisha’s progress, her parents also enrolled her sister in the center, emphasizing the positive impact of digital learning and life skills education in empowering women. Manisha’s journey is a testament to such programs’ transformative potential in fostering empowerment and changing societal perspectives.
The digital divide denotes the disparity between urban and rural areas in access to digital technology and the internet. Urban regions typically enjoy superior access to high-speed internet and digital resources compared to their rural counterparts, where the need for enhanced infrastructure and connectivity is more pronounced. This digital gap can result in inequalities across various sectors, such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, particularly impacting girls in rural areas who may face challenges in accessing and utilizing digital resources.
Addressing this digital disparity necessitates ongoing efforts to promote digital literacy in rural communities, eliminating barriers and creating equal opportunities for all.
And that’s where the
Top sustainable rural development NGO in India
steps in!
S M Sehgal Foundation was established by Dr. Surinder (Suri) and Mrs. Edda Sehgal. Informed by Dr. Sehgal’s distinguished career in the global seed industry, the couple used their financial resources and combined skills in business and agriculture to create a foundation to support and empower impoverished communities and individuals and make a positive and sustainable difference across rural India.
4.63 Million People Reached
S M Sehgal Foundation adopts a community-centric strategy, prioritizing empowerment and accountability over traditional “charity” models. In alignment with a dedication to rural service, the foundation’s influence is consistently growing, touching the lives of over 4.6 million people and counting. As of 2023, the foundation’s dedicated teams are actively engaged in twelve states across India, addressing the most urgent needs and striving to empower an increasing number of rural communities.
About the Author
Ms. Barsha Das
Assistant program lead, Local Participation and Sustainability, S M Sehgal Foundation
Barsha Das has a Master’s in Agriculture from Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat, and has 4 years of work experience in the field of Agriculture and rural development sector. She has worked with the Government of Assam for 2 years under the Ministry of Handloom and Textile primarily focused on the Indian silks. Currently, she is leading projects on Climate Change in agriculture and Sustainability and other integrated projects as an Assistant Program Lead.
FAQs
Manisha is a resident of the rural village of Sihri in the Nuh district. She encountered limitations in education due to patriarchal norms and financial constraints in her village. Girls in her community typically received limited education, and mobility for girls was discouraged.
Initially losing interest, Manisha wanted to enroll in a digital and life skills awareness center launched by S M Sehgal Foundation through a CSR-supported project. Despite facing resistance from her family, she started the five-month course in February 2023.
The training covered personality development, goal setting, communication skills, gender equality, computer basics, and internet usage. The gender equality session significantly impacted Manisha, leading to positive changes in her family.
Initially resistant, Manisha’s family eventually agreed to enroll her in the program. The positive transformation in Manisha’s character, and especially her father’s newfound respect for women’s opinions, encouraged her family.
The digital divide signifies the inequality between urban and rural areas in access to digital technology and the internet. This gap can result in disparities in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, particularly affecting girls in rural regions. Ongoing efforts to promote digital literacy are crucial to addressing this divide and creating equal opportunities for all.
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