Jharni

Shambhu Lal Labana

Manage the day-to-day operations of the SMARTPUR Centre. Deliver digital and e-governance services, including online applications, document services, and access to government schemes. Facilitate enrolment and support for social protection schemes such as pensions, Ayushman Bharat, e-Shram, Jan Dhan, and other welfare programmes. Provide banking and digital payment services (where applicable) and promote financial inclusion. Mobilise the community by promoting SMARTPUR services and encouraging citizens to utilise the centre.

Shambhu Labana, a 40-year-old resident of Jharni Gram Panchayat in Dungarpur district, Rajasthan, is the sole breadwinner of a family of five. Before joining the SMARTPUR Project, he operated a small e-Mitra and Banking Correspondent (BC) Centre with limited resources. Frequent power cuts, inadequate digital infrastructure, lack of technical training, and low community awareness restricted the services he could provide. As a result, his monthly income remained between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000, making it difficult to support his family. In 2024, Shambhu became associated with the SMARTPUR Project, implemented by REACHA with the support of Nokia. Through the project, his centre was equipped with essential infrastructure, including a solar power system, inverter, laptops, printers, furniture, and other digital equipment. He also received regular capacity-building training, technical guidance, and continuous mentoring, enabling him to expand the quality and range of services offered. Today, the SMARTPUR Centre has become a trusted digital service hub for the people of Jharni. Shambhu provides a wide range of government, banking, and digital services, including pensions, Jan Aadhaar, birth and death certificates, e-Shram registration, PM-Kisan services, banking transactions, and other citizen-centric services. Villagers no longer need to travel long distances to access these essential services, saving both time and money. The centre has also improved community awareness through regular outreach and awareness programmes, helping more eligible families access government schemes and digital services. With improved infrastructure, uninterrupted power supply, and community trust, Shambhu has transformed from a small service provider into a respected community entrepreneur. His journey demonstrates how the SMARTPUR model strengthens rural livelihoods while improving access to essential services and promoting digital inclusion at the Gram Panchayat level.