Berhampur: Tata Power Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) has trained 2,500 women Self Help Groups (SHGs) under its digital literacy campaign in southern Odisha.
TPSODL, the joint venture between Tata Power and state government for power distribution in southern Odisha, has launched the campaign to provide necessary exposure to rural communities to the digital space.
Through this campaign, the company has already reached over 10 lakh individuals in nearly 1,000 gram panchayats and sensitised them to the benefits of digital exposure, online payment options, digital incentives, accessing government schemes, and educational content through inter-personal interactions along with village and block-level group meetings.
The campaign covers Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nabarangapur, Kandhamal and Boudh districts. To further ensure maximum outreach in some of the most interior locations, TPSODL officials, in collaboration with NGO partners, are conducting door-to-door campaigns to train rural youth, college-going girls, Women Self Help Group (SHG) members, Panchayati Raj representatives, ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers.
Besides household-level campaigns, more than 300 small group meetings have been conducted to foster enthusiasm for digital literacy in different panchayats.
“We are proud to empower over 2,500 women SHGs through our digital literacy campaign. By extending digital learning opportunities to these beneficiaries, we aim to bridge the digital divide and enable them to harness the full potential of the digital world. TPSODL Team is contributing towards the digital empowerment and socio-economic development of the communities through such initiatives,” said Amit Garg, Chief Executive Officer, TPSODL.
The campaign aims to provide rural communities with exposure to the digital world. During the campaign, TPSODL officials distribute Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, covering topics such as different aspects online payments and accessing pool of information available on the internet.
TPSODL, in partnership with the NGO, is also moving to remote hilly and tribal villages for the campaign. It is holding meetings with different stakeholders and community groups, including SHG federations, civic societies, farmer groups and Panchayati Raj Institute members to raise awareness about the digital literacy.
As part of the campaign, TPSODL has also raised awareness about the dedicated toll-free helpline numbers, 1800-345-6797 and 1912, enabling consumers to seek assistance for any electricity-related issues.
