BHEELWA PANCHELA

“Mahipal Rot, a resident of Bhilwa Panchela Gram Panchayat, started a rural service centre with the objective of providing banking and digital services to his community. In the initial phase, he operated the centre with limited resources, having only one laptop, a printer, and a Banking Correspondent (BC) facility. Due to inadequate infrastructure, he was able to offer only a limited range of services, and his monthly income remained around ₹10,000. In September 2024, Mahipal became part of the SMARTPUR Project, implemented by REACHA with the support of Nokia. Under the project, his service centre was strengthened with modern digital infrastructure, essential equipment, and technical support, significantly improving both the quality and efficiency of service delivery. Today, the SMARTPUR Centre is fully equipped with a dedicated service room, two laptops, two printers, a storage cabinet, Banking Correspondent (BC) equipment, a webcam, a solar power system, an inverter, reliable power backup, tables, and chairs. These enhanced facilities enable Mahipal to provide a wide range of government, banking, and digital services to rural citizens in a faster, more reliable, and efficient manner. As a result, the number of beneficiaries visiting the centre has increased significantly, and his monthly income has grown from approximately ₹12,000 to around ₹30,000. Mahipal Rot's journey demonstrates how access to modern technology, reliable infrastructure, and institutional support can strengthen rural entrepreneurship, improve livelihoods, and ensure quality digital and financial services for the community. He expressed his sincere gratitude to REACHA and the SMARTPUR Project for bringing this transformative change to his life and village.”