Social Work Volunteer Opportunities

Technology means different things to different people. The phone in our hands, the TV we watch, the computer we use to work. Introduction of every innovation has added to convenience and ease of living.

Technology has also helped us connect with our friends and loved ones halfway across the world. Reaching out to them is only a matter of switching on the webcam and a chat window.

But can these inventions have applications in the rural world? How about using videoconferencing to provide health care to villages? Or using Skype to teach algebra, chemistry and Newton’s laws? Or an SMS that informs a farmer about the availability of power supply? These are unique solutions key to the organisation we’re going to talk about. 

In remote corners of India where advanced medical care is a far off reality, E Health Point Services is introducing a program that allows patients to video chat with doctors. They run the necessary tests to arrive at accurate diagnoses. They also provide clean drinking water to help reduce the chances of water-borne diseases. These services help villagers avoid extra costs of travelling to health care facilities and save on medical expenses. Health Point Services has successfully conducted more than 10,000 diagnostic investigations, 22,000 medical consultations, 28,000 filled prescriptions, and provides more than 50,000 people daily with safe drinking water. The company has also created job opportunities across villages. It has also successfully managed to record a positive cash flow, proving the sustainability of E Health Point’s pay-and-use business model.

However, healthcare isn’t the only field in which technology has been applied to help better lives. Now a SIM card installed at a pumping station helps farmers check availability of power supply. This unique service has been launched by Realtech Systems.

Earlier, farmers would walk miles to operate their irrigation pumps only to be at the mercy of unreliable power supply. Realtech’s device equipped with a SIM card has helped solve this problem. When a farmer makes a missed call to a SIM fitted in a Realtech device, it responds by sending an SMS to that farmer’s mobile stating whether power supply is available or not at that point of time. If power supply is available, on second missed call motor is turned ON and farmer is informed about the action via SMS including time of start.Third missed call switches the motor OFF and sends an SMS to the farmer’s mobile phone confirming the task.

SMS is sent to the farmer in text (local language) and picture format as majority farmers don’t understand English or are illiterate. This unique system is the brainchild of 
Mr. T. Kumar, founder of Realtech Systems. Coming from a rural background himself, he understood the everyday challenges that a farmer faces.

When technology started out, it was intended to serve a human need, to make living easier. These are companies that have used it for a social cause, companies that offer benefits to people who truly need it and deliver a solution to a difficult situation. An example of technology having a social face. How would you use technology to affect or better the lives of others? You could start by sharing this story. The power is already yours. It’s all a matter of using it. The right place to start would be www.jaagore.com