A unique ‘digital donation campaign’ has been launched in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh to provide needy children will laptops and other electronic devices for e-learning. One of its major objectives is to meet the needs of e-learning in the era of pandemic. A ‘digital dana platform’ has been especially created for the purpose, where people can donate funds and can also track their money’s utilization.
Chhindwara is the first district in the country to bring in such an initiative. Started under the leadership of 2011-batch IAS officer Saurav Kumar Suman, who is the Collector of Chhindwara, this initiative will benefit thousands of underprivileged children.
Indian Masterminds spoke to Mr. Suman to know more about this unique digital donation campaign.
DIGITAL DONATION CAMPAIGN
A far-reaching impact of the pandemic has been on the education of rural and underprivileged children. Due to lack of proper digital resources, these children have not been able to take advantage of online classes in the true sense. Realizing the importance of school education in building the future of children, the digital donation campaign is being started by the Chhindwara district administration. A MoU has been signed between Collector Saurav Kumar Suman and Iftekhar Pathan, founder of Pune-based Meta Social Company.
The objective is to provide about 10 thousand needy children with laptops and other necessary digital equipment for e-learning.Course material will also be made available to them. District Collector Saurabh Kumar told Indian Masterminds, “Our initiative has two main objectives. First, as everyone knows, the importance of e-learning has increased a lot in the COVID phase. But for those needy children, who do not have the proper resources, we have to create an inclusive digital education system by giving them all the facilities related to e-learning. Secondly, to develop 21st century skills in children,we will expose them to modern education and large scale modern learning materials.”
He also informed that the entire focus of the campaign right now is to raise funds. A ‘digital dana platform’ has been especially created for the purpose. The Meta Social Company of Pune that they have tied up with will keep track of the donations that come on the digital platform. Donation is open to people of the entire country as well as those living abroad. “There are some people who want to donate for the development of remote places and tribal areas of the country, but they do not get any proper platform. We have created a platform to fill that gap,” he said.
RAISING FUNDS
The officer further informed that with the help of the digital Dana platform,they will first raise funds and then provide equipment for e-learning to children. All equipment will be geo-fenced, so that no one can misuse them. It can be used only at a particular location. If someone takes it outside, he will not be able to use it. “Technology is being used for protection. To ensure that the electronic things reach the real needy people. Once the children get used to e-learning and digital education, we plan to introduce them to a variety of courses related to personality development, e-learning and employability. Companies like Microsoft offer some ready-made courses, we will try to get them. Such companies easily come forward to help under their CSR,” the officer said.
THE EXECUTION
At the beginning of this initiative, children will be screened and selected. 100 children will be selected in the first phase and then gradually the number will be increased.
Mr. Suman said, “We will initially select very talented children of big schools in our district who come from poor families and have negligible resources. Screening of children will be done based on the feedback of the school. The resources will be given to those who really need it. However, the ownership will remain with the district administration. If there is any wrong use, then it will be taken back and given to someone else.”
FUTURE PLANS
While Pune’s Meta Social Company will manage the digital donation portal, academicians and people associated with the corporate sector will also be gradually connected to it. There is also a plan to open institutions under this programme in the next phase.
This initiative of Chhindwara district is currently being seen as a model. After it is successfully implemented in the district, the same campaign could well be run in other districts of the country as well. Any person can voluntarily donate to this platform digitally. The platform is completely transparent, and the donors can track their donation and keep an eye on its utilization. Apart from the Meta Social Company, Indian Global, MIT-ADT University of Pune and NGO ‘Nannhe Farishte’ of Indore are also involved in the programme.
