Punjpur

Dinesh Chandra Chamar

is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Centre, ensuring timely delivery of services, maintaining both online and offline beneficiary records, mobilizing the community to increase service uptake, organizing quarterly CMC meetings, and documenting all meetings and activities with photographs and written records.

Dinesh, a resident of Punjpur Panchayat in Dungarpur district, has been physically disabled since birth, which made it difficult for him to take up regular employment. He worked as an e-Mitra operator in his village but was unable to provide services smoothly due to a severe lack of resources. In the early stages, he struggled with low self-confidence and lacked technical knowledge, digital equipment, and proper training. Frequent network issues and irregular power supply in the village often forced him to close the censer and return home, inconveniencing the customers who had to be called again. Digital service centres like e-Mitra were limited in the village, and due to a lack of technical know-how and infrastructure, people couldn’t complete online applications on time. As a result, they had to travel to other areas even for minor tasks, wasting both time and money. The community also lacked digital literacy, which prevented many from applying for government schemes online. There were no proper banking services available, although villagers needed them. Due to limited resources and lack of confidence, Dinesh had to restrict the scope of his services. Many villagers also missed out on government schemes like pensions, Jan Aadhaar, PM Kisan, and Palanhar Yojana due to lack of awareness or complicated application procedures. Sometimes, even minor document errors led to delays or denial of benefits, causing people to lose hope and stop trying. Moreover, village children were deprived of computer education — either because of the lack of facilities or high fees. Amid all these challenges, Dinesh could offer only limited e-Mitra services and, despite great efforts, earned merely ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 per month — an amount insufficient to support his family. Due to his limited income, he was also unable to afford essential digital equipment. There was a time when Dinesh was running e-Mitra services in his village with limited resources and knowledge. Although he tried to help people in his own way, the lack of technical support, equipment, and training restricted his impact. It was during this phase that his association with the SMARTPUR project became a turning point in his life. After joining SMARTPUR, Dinesh not only received digital equipment such as solar panels, inverters, laptops, printers, chairs, tables, etc., but he was also provided with regular training, guidance, and handholding support from the SMARTPUR team. This marked the beginning of his journey—from being a service provider to becoming a changemaker. While earning a stable income, he expanded the services at his censer, obtained an authorized RSCIT centre code, and started certified computer education training. With SMARTPUR's support, he also got the opportunity to work as a private Banking Correspondent (BC), making banking services easily accessible at his censer. With continued technical support from the SMARTPUR team, he became capable of delivering various government schemes and services effectively. Presently, he has facilitated the application of numerous beneficiaries under schemes like Palanhar Yojana, Widow Pension, Disability Pension, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Old Age Pension, and Scholarships—not only from his own panchayat but also from nearby villages. His centre has now evolved into a one-stop platform where people can access government schemes, banking services, and digital education—all under one roof. Community members also benefit from awareness sessions and camps organized from time to time, helping them gain accurate information and apply on time, which has strengthened both the community’s trust in the centre and Dinesh’s self-confidence. Although other e-Mitra and RSCIT centres have opened in the village, the quality, timeliness, and reliability of services offered at the SMARTPUR centre have made it stand out. Today, this centre is not just a hub of services, but a symbol of rural digital empowerment. Dinesh now earns a monthly income of ₹35,000 to ₹40,000. The journey of his censer is no longer limited to providing services; it has become an inspiring path toward empowering the entire village.