Totopara internet connectivity with Digital Empowerment Foundation

Status: Closed

Country: India

Partner: Digital Empowerment Foundation

Impact goal: 1300 people

About the project

Digital Empowerment Foundation, located in India, is providing internet connectivity in the Totopara Village along with providing digital literacy to the Toto Tribes. The village will get internet through network extenders and their ability to use it is ensured through establishing a Community Information Resource Centre (CIRC). The CIRC will provide community members, and especially children and adolescents with access to common learning tools including STEM learning, robotics, and coding. The project will also work towards preserving the culture and language of the Toto Tribe through digital documentation.

Results

This project set out to digitally empower the Toto tribal community by establishing reliable internet access, offering digital literacy and STEM training, facilitating access to government services, supporting community-led documentation of language and culture, and reducing reliance on intermediaries for digital tasks.

The Totopara Internet Connectivity Project facilitated approximately 2,188 instances of service delivery to members of the Toto community. This figure includes both unique and repeat beneficiaries, reflecting the diverse ways in which individuals engaged with and benefited from multiple services offered under the project.

Achievements in Digital Literacy and Access

A Community Information Resource Centre was established in Totopara. It is equipped with internet connectivity, biometric devices, printers, and laptops. The center offers a dedicated space where residents can access government services without leaving the village.

The project organized three Aadhaar enrolment camps. A total of 178 community members enrolled or updated their records during these events.

A total of 440 youth and students received training in MS Office, internet browsing, and using online government services. This initiative improved digital literacy in tribal communities and helped prepare residents for modern job markets.

PM-WANI-based public Wi-Fi was launched in Totopara, giving over 178 regular users reliable internet connectivity.

Four awareness sessions were held with 176 women, focusing on online safety, responsible digital behavior, and identifying misinformation.

The project conducted five STEM workshops, reaching 172 children. Through hands-on activities, these workshops sparked interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The center provided printing, scanning, and documentation services to 1,044 residents, making essential services more accessible within the village.

Efforts to preserve cultural heritage included documenting traditional food, rituals, language, and indigenous medicinal practices. All materials were stored in the Toto language to ensure long-term preservation.

Impact on the community

Before the project, residents traveled 22–27 km to access government services or digital centers in nearby towns. The establishment of the CIRC saved time, effort, and money by bringing these services into the village.

With regular internet access and digital literacy training, local youth began exploring online job portals, e-learning platforms, and skill development resources, greatly improving their employment and education opportunities.

The community also gained greater autonomy in accessing government portals and welfare schemes, reducing dependence on intermediaries and minimizing the spread of misinformation.

A culture of peer mentoring emerged, with trained youth helping elders and peers navigate digital services. Local volunteers also learned how to manage and operate the CIRC, laying the foundation for sustainable digital governance at the grassroots level.

Challenges

Despite the installation of LTE boosters and the launch of PM-WANI-based internet access, Totopara’s hilly terrain and dense forests often disrupted connectivity. Weather conditions, especially during the rainy season, worsened the problem. In some cases, residents still had to walk considerable distances to find a stable internet connection, which limited spontaneous access to digital services.

Many residents faced issues with their Aadhaar records, including name mismatches, incorrect birth dates, and biometric discrepancies. These errors delayed access to government benefits and caused frustration in the community. To address the problem, the project organized additional Aadhaar enrolment and correction camps. These sessions worked with authorized service providers to resolve errors on the spot, making the process faster and more efficient.

In the early stages, women’s participation in digital literacy programs was low. Cultural hesitations, household responsibilities, and social norms discouraged women from attending mixed-group sessions. The project responded by introducing women-only workshops and cyber awareness programs. Female facilitators and respected community leaders were engaged to encourage attendance. Over time, these measures created a safe learning environment for women and significantly increased participation rates.

Local schools in Totopara lacked structured STEM education, which meant that many children were unfamiliar with basic concepts in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. At first, participation in STEM workshops was slow as facilitators had to introduce foundational ideas. To overcome this, the project used an activity-based learning approach that made STEM subjects more relatable and fun. As awareness spread, interest grew steadily, eventually surpassing expectations.

About the partner

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) is a Delhi-based nonprofit organization working towards empowering people to gain access to better healthcare, education, skills and livelihood opportunities through digital literacy and digital tools.

Visit their website here.