Science Graduate Mehbub Alom started his CSC journey from Agomani village in year 2016. Agomani is a small village in Dhubri district, Assam. It is an area on the bank of Gangadhar river with historical significance. Agomani is situated at a distance of 50 km to the North West of Dhubri. 28 years old Mehbub started the CSC as a small shop, but today he has a good infrastructure with 12 computers at his CSC. He has employed 5 villagers at his centre. “We trained around 800 people as part of PMGDISHA program,” says Mehbub Alam. “Making villagers in and around Dhubri digitally literate is my core job.” Apart from Digital Literacy, he is delivering services on Tele-Medicine, Solar street light scheme, Wi-fi-Choupal, Skill Training, Insurance, Banking service and other all CSC services. Villagers from Agomani, Jhapusabari, Shernagar, Gouripur come to his CSC for various services.
Another responsibility, VLE Mehbub Alom has undertaken is the creation of Digital Village in Agomani. In Digital Village Agomani, VLE has set up Wi-Fi, Streets lights and Computer infrastructure.
“This concept of Digital Village is reducing the pressure of increased urbanization in Assam. More equal access to opportunities, as well as improved sanitation, health care benefits and job prospects in Dhubri is helping to reduce social unrest,” VLE argued.
Mobile networks still don’t operate in Agomani but the village now has internet. VLE says, “CSC Wi-Fi Choupal is being used to deliver broadband internet. Villagers now use Skype and WhatsApp to connect with the wider world.” Encouraging alternate technologies and new business models designed for scale through CSC is the first step towards the digital transformation of Agomani village.
CSC Agomani is developing an economically viable ecosystem. The VLE is providing training that supplements indigenous skills, ensure digital and IT-readiness, and link skilling-interventions to market – both online and offline.
Almost 70% of India lives in villages where the social and economic conditions are sub-optimal. This is why 3.8 lakh VLEs like Mehbub Alom are empowering remote villages through technology and creating rural innovation clusters to realize the true potential of Digital India.
