Gram Vikas

Gramvikas partners with rural communities to empower them to lead dignified lives.

Challenges Feed

Our client sought to address a unique and pressing issue: delivering up-to-date information to remote areas of India, specifically in the villages of Odisha where direct internet access is nonexistent.

The residents of these regions were isolated from vital resources such as the latest news, government schemes, educational blogs, and crucial crop-related information that could significantly impact their livelihoods.

Additionally, there was a heartfelt need to connect these villagers with their loved ones who were in different parts of the world and had internet access. The challenge lay in overcoming the infrastructural limitations and finding an innovative way to bridge this digital divide, ensuring real-time information dissemination and facilitating communication in areas devoid of traditional internet connectivity.

Advanced Features in Gramvikas

Have a look at our advanced features used for Gramvikas.

Our Solution

To overcome the challenge of delivering real-time information and communication capabilities to remote villages in Odisha, India—areas lacking direct internet access—CodeFire collaborated closely with the client to develop an innovative and practical solution.

We devised a multi-component system comprising Raspberry Pi devices, a custom mobile application (APK), and a web-based application with an administrative interface. The web platform allowed administrators and internet-connected users to input and update content such as the latest news, government schemes, educational blogs, crop-related information, and personal messages intended for villagers.

The custom mobile application was engineered to function seamlessly in both online and offline environments:

Online Mode: When users had internet access—typically during trips to nearby cities—they could use the mobile app to connect to the central web servers and download the latest data. This information was cached within the app, allowing users to access it later without an active internet connection.
Offline Mode with Raspberry Pi: In the villages, where internet connectivity was absent, the mobile app was programmed to search for and connect to a known Raspberry Pi server. These Raspberry Pi devices acted as local servers and were usually activated during communal gatherings at the village "chaupal" (a central meeting place in the evenings). Villagers could connect their mobile devices to the Raspberry Pi server via a local network, download the latest cached data, and consume the content at their convenience.

Additionally, the mobile app enabled users to compose messages and gather information while offline. These messages were stored within the app until the device reconnected to either the Raspberry Pi server or directly to the internet. When connected to the Raspberry Pi, the app would upload the composed messages to the local server. The Raspberry Pi device, once it gained internet access—either through mobile hotspots or when physically transported to an area with connectivity—would synchronize with the central web server. This synchronization process involved:

Uploading Villagers' Messages: Messages composed by villagers were sent to their intended recipients, including loved ones in different parts of the world.
Downloading New Content: The Raspberry Pi server updated its cache with the latest information from the central web server, ready to be shared with the community during the next local connection.

By integrating affordable hardware like Raspberry Pi and leveraging the mobility of villagers who occasionally traveled to connected areas, CodeFire's solution effectively bridged the digital divide. This system enabled:

Access to Vital Information: Villagers received timely updates on news, government initiatives, educational content, and agricultural advice critical to their livelihoods
Enhanced Communication: Families separated by distance could exchange messages, fostering stronger community ties and personal connections.
Scalability and Replicability: The solution provided a model that could be adapted and implemented in other remote regions facing similar connectivity challenges.

Through this innovative approach, CodeFire not only addressed the immediate needs of the villagers but also empowered the community by providing tools for continuous information exchange and communication. The project exemplifies how technology can be tailored to overcome infrastructural limitations, making a meaningful impact on underserved populations.