Parmila Bai had to start working after her husband broke his back and was rendered permanently disabled. He is bed ridden now and cannot work anymore. The entire family of six including four children, two sons and two daughters, are completely dependent on her now. She has been working in the SLRM (Solid and Liquid Resources Management) centre at Jashpur since then. Her job is to segregate various types of waste materials at the centre. The job has helped her to support the education of her children.
Most of her income goes in her husband’s medications and children’s education besides the day-to-day expenses. There is no extra money left for anything else. A smart phone, therefore, was out of bounds for her. She knew how to operate a smart phone and was aware of the features available but could never think of buying one.
But now she is the proud owner of a smart phone that has been provided to her under the Sanchar Kranti Yojana or SKY, an initiative of the Chhattisgarh Government. Under this scheme, 50 lakh people from underprivileged background have been provided with smart phones.Besides, mobile towers have also been installed in various parts of the state.The objective of this scheme is to improve mobile connectivity and increase the number of mobile users in the state.
The smart phone has opened a new world for Pramila. “I am loving it. I am doing things which could not be done with my old phone. I surf the internet and I am also doing video calls.” Parmila says. The mobile internet has been her constant companion since she got hold of her smart phone. She has been learning a lot of things using the internet. She says, “I have learnt many things with help of the internet. The best part is that I get video tutorials about things that I want to learn. My children have also benefited from the internet as it is helping them get any information they need. It has actually become a tool for their studies.” She also uses the internet to learn more about providing care to her husband. “He needs constant care and I have learnt certain things about his condition from the internet. The information has been valuable.” She says.
Parmila also uses the messaging apps to stay in touch with her children when they go out. “It is easier and more convenient than making calls which may not be suitable at all times.” She says.
Parmila sincerely believes that the smart phone will make lives better for her and her family. The smart phone has become an integral part of her life. It has become a trusted companion that makes her feel more confident and empowered. “It has made life easier on many counts. I am glad that I got this smart phone. It would not have been easy for me to buy a smart phone. But fortunately I have got this now and it is going to make our lives better in the coming days.”
