Poonam Bai is a resident of the Untwal village from Alwar district of Rajasthan. Poonam Bai has been an active member of an SHG (self-help group) for around five years and has completed her Batchelor in Education. But due to the unavailability of work after the completion of her education, she started working for one of the SHGs.
Before becoming a Digital Sarthak, she would go to people’s houses who were in need and educate them about the relevant government schemes. She would provide all the necessary support for a deserving person who may be illiterate and from the marginalised communities to access their rights and entitlements.
These qualities of Poonam made her a suitable candidate in becoming the Digital Sarthak where the primary role is in digital upskilling of women entrepreneurs and providing services to the community. Along with the training of 100 women entrepreneurs from her community, she continues to provide services to the community where she is helping people avail their entitled basic needs such as food, ration and such others by registering them under the relevant government schemes.
Before she was digitally equipped, she hardly interacted with the community stakeholders. But now, she not only reaches out to the sarpanch but also the collector’s office to ensure people get their entitlements.
Under the Digital Sarthak programme, Poonam has been teaching the women entrepreneurs from her village on topics such as digital and financial literacy, smartphone for business, online transactions and others. Women from her community consider Poonam as a role model and they also envision enhancing their business by attending these training sessions just like her.
Poonam is a perfect example of a social entrepreneur who is earning by serving her community.
