Empowering Change Through Technology: Dhwani RIS’ Field Visit to Agrasar

Bridging Technology and Grassroots Impact

Technical expertise is crucial in building solutions, but it’s through field visits that we gain a true understanding of the environment, challenges, and unique needs of our users. Recently, Dhwani RIS’s team visited the Agrasar Centre, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting migrant workers in Gurgaon. This visit was part of our Dhwani Field Visits Program, designed to provide firsthand exposure to the real-world impact of our technology, mYojana, on the communities it serves.

Agrasar is one of the organizations supported by the Azim Premji Foundation (APF), which has a deep commitment to empowering nonprofits across India with the tools and resources to serve marginalized communities more effectively. Established in 2000, APF supports over 240 nonprofits, including Agrasar, through grants and resources aimed at enabling social welfare programs. Recognizing the need for accessible and impactful tech solutions, APF partnered with Dhwani RIS to develop digitization programs that help nonprofits like Agrasar improve their data management, governance, and service delivery. Through this collaboration, Dhwani’s mYojana platform was introduced to Agrasar as part of APF’s digital transformation initiative. mYojana empowers Agrasar to efficiently manage beneficiary data and streamline operations, crucial for helping migrants navigate complex government welfare schemes. The result is a transformative tech solution supported by APF’s commitment to accessible, open-source software for social impact, and Dhwani’s expertise in designing tech solutions specific to the nonprofit sector.

Agrasar and the Challenge of Supporting Migrant Workers

Migrant workers often lack access to basic social services, making them vulnerable in urban environments. Agrasar’s mission is to connect these individuals with government welfare schemes, ensuring they receive the documentation and support they need. However, managing extensive beneficiary data posed a challenge. Enter mYojana—a solution designed by Dhwani RIS to streamline the collection and management of beneficiary information and enhance service delivery.

With mYojana, Agrasar can now organize beneficiaries into family units, making it easier to understand their needs and provide tailored support. The platform's analytics and reporting tools allow Agrasar to monitor the impact of its interventions effectively, bringing a higher level of transparency and accountability to its operations.

Field Visit Insights: How Technology Can Drive Real Change

During the visit, Dhwani’s software, data analytics and project management teams had the opportunity to observe Agrasar’s programs in action, engage with field staff and beneficiaries, and assess the on-the-ground effectiveness of mYojana. Key objectives for the visit included:

• Deepening Empathy and Understanding: Observing firsthand how field staff and beneficiaries interact with mYojana allowed our team to experience the end users' challenges and successes. This insight is essential for empathetic, user-centered design.
• Identifying Areas for Improvement: By engaging directly with stakeholders, our team gathered valuable feedback, from the need for streamlined data entry fields to potential improvements in offline accessibility.
• Encouraging User-Centric Design: Through conversations with Agrasar’s MIS managers and field staff, we gained insights that will help us refine mYojana to better address users' needs.

One of the most impactful moments was a conversation with Shashi Ranjan, Agrasar’s Centre Manager. Reflecting on mYojana’s impact, he shared, “Ek cheez hai ki ab reports mai turant bhejh pata hun,” emphasizing how the system has improved operational efficiency by enabling instant reporting.

Samarth Paul, Project Analyst at Dhwani, commented on the experience, stating, “Visiting Agrasar was an eye-opening experience. Seeing the work up close and how mYojana is making a tangible difference in their operations has deepened my understanding of user needs. It’s a reminder of why field visits are so essential to our work at Dhwani.”

Technical Highlights: mYojana’s Role in Empowering Agrasar

mYojana is a beneficiary management system that combines user management, robust analytics, and a rule engine for targeted support. Here are some of the most valuable features that have made a difference for Agrasar:

• Comprehensive Beneficiary Profiles: mYojana captures socio-demographic details and citizenship documentation requirements, tracking beneficiaries’ interactions with various welfare schemes. This holistic profile helps Agrasar deliver services more effectively.
• Configurable Rule Engine: Based on individual needs, mYojana suggests relevant schemes and documents, ensuring that beneficiaries receive timely and appropriate support.
• Efficient Reporting and Dashboard Tools: Real-time data visualizations help Agrasar track service outcomes and make informed decisions about resource allocation.
• Seamless WhatsApp Integration: The platform connects with WhatsApp, enabling the Agrasar team to share critical updates, such as ration distribution schedules, directly with beneficiaries.

Lessons from the Field: Enhancements Inspired by the Visit

The field visit provided invaluable insights that will shape future enhancements to mYojana. For example:

• Scheme-Specific Feedback Mechanism: Agrasar’s team expressed a need for tracking long-term outcomes of welfare schemes. To address this, we proposed adding scheme-specific feedback forms to gather ongoing insights from beneficiaries.
• Integrated Communication Channels: Recognizing the importance of accessible communication, we suggested improvements to the WhatsApp integration to facilitate timely updates and reminders for beneficiaries.
• Clickable Reports for Real-Time Data Access: To make data more accessible, we are exploring a feature where specific data points link directly to individual beneficiary profiles, simplifying access for Agrasar’s team.

Field Visits Fueling Tech4Good

For Dhwani RIS, this visit to Agrasar was about more than showcasing technology; it was about understanding the lives impacted by our solutions. Observing mYojana in action reaffirmed the potential of tech to drive meaningful social change, transforming ‘Tech for Good’ from a slogan into a lived reality.

As we continue refining our solutions to better serve communities, field visits like these remain crucial to our mission. They deepen our connection to end users and allow us to build solutions that are not only functional but transformative. By staying grounded in empathy and real-world insights, Dhwani RIS is dedicated to empowering organizations like Agrasar with technology that truly makes a difference.