Empowerment to Empowering: The Story of Ruben
By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Published on: July 24, 2023
Ruben can help his people only because of the platform provided to him by DEF and NOKIA. The continued support from the organisation helps his community to update themselves and their community, and not be left behind in this rapidly developing world.
Ruben hails from Chirala, Andhra Pradesh. A few years back, he offered his premises to erect a wireless tower to provide internet connectivity to serve the fisherman community members of the Chirala district. His relationship with DEF went beyond and soon enough, Ruben became a digital entrepreneur. Enabled to run a local digital center, Ruben is now the SoochnaPreneur at the Vodarevu center in Chirala. He recently received the CSC award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community. With two banking correspondent IDs, he can conduct transactions up to 90 lakhs in a year, generating a significant revenue of approximately 4-4.5 lakhs in from the center.
As a member of the Chirala fisherman community, Ruben acknowledges the transformative impact of the Smartpur center in the area. He said “Smartpur center in our area has connected us to so many opportunities. All age groups benefit from the center. Students are learning about the uses of the internet, I provide telemedicine consultations to the elderly using e-sanjeevni, governance and finance services are provided daily and everyone is always happy to cut down on mobility time and avail these services within walking distance. I can help my people only because of the platform provided to me by DEF and NOKIA. The continued support from the organisation helps us to update ourselves and our community, and not be left behind in this rapidly developing world”
DEF’s initiative in the Chirala fishermen community is enabling people like Ruben to keep abreast of rapid developments in the modern world, benefitting both him and his community members.
