Nepalpura

Kantilal Meena

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. Coordinate with the Community Mobilizer to organise awareness campaigns, service camps, and outreach activities. Work closely with the Computer Academic Instructor to support digital literacy and computer education programmes. Maintain accurate online and offline records of beneficiaries, services delivered, revenue, and centre activities.

Kantilal Meena is a resident of Nepalpura Gram Panchayat in Dungarpur district, Rajasthan. His father, Shri Sohanlal Meena, is a farmer, and his mother, Smt. Kanta Meena, is a homemaker. After completing his graduation, Kantilal started providing various government and digital services to the rural community in his Gram Panchayat. However, due to the lack of essential infrastructure and resources, he was able to offer only limited services. The community also faced a significant lack of awareness. Many eligible villagers were unable to apply for government welfare schemes because they were unaware of the available benefits and application procedures. Another major challenge was the frequent power outages. During electricity cuts, villagers often had to wait for several hours, and many returned home without receiving the required services. Owing to these challenges, Kantilal's monthly income was limited to approximately ₹6,000. In November 2024, Kantilal became associated with the SMARTPUR Project, implemented by REACHA with the support of Nokia. This marked a significant turning point for both Kantilal and the Nepalpura community. Under the project, REACHA equipped the service centre with the necessary infrastructure and digital resources, enabling the delivery of a wider range of services. In addition, community awareness programmes were organised to educate villagers about government schemes, digital services, and other essential facilities, encouraging them to make greater use of these services. To address the issue of frequent power interruptions, REACHA installed a solar inverter at the SMARTPUR Centre, ensuring uninterrupted electricity and continuous service delivery. As a result, the number of visitors to the SMARTPUR Centre increased steadily, and more community members began accessing digital and government services. Today, Kantilal Meena successfully operates the SMARTPUR Centre, providing a wide range of digital and government services to the rural community. This has not only improved access to timely and quality services for villagers but has also significantly enhanced his livelihood. His monthly income has increased from approximately ₹6,000 to around ₹20,000. Kantilal Meena's journey demonstrates that the right infrastructure, technological support, and community awareness can create meaningful and sustainable change in the lives of individuals while strengthening access to essential services for the entire community.