HaqDisha
HaqDisha is an initiative to improve access to entitlements, social security, and protection for the Tea Tribe and Adivasi communities of Assam. It bridges gaps in information, awareness, and delivery by training local youth fellows (DigiPreneurs / Digi Sakhis), setting up Digital ONE Centres, and building sustainable links between communities and government systems.
It is an initiative of Council for Social & Digital Development (CSDD) and North East Development Foundation (NEDF). It works to bridge the gap between people and entitlements, focusing on Tea Tribe & Adivasi communities of Assam—among the most vulnerable and excluded.
Households Reached with Entitlements
Identity Document Applications Supported
Scholarship & Financial Assistance Applications filed
Digital ONE Centres established
Schemes exist. Reaching them is the hard part.
Exclusion is rarely about a lack of schemes. It is about documents, information, digital access and complex processes.
- Remote gardens with poor connectivity
- Limited access to devices and digital skills
- Language barriers (Sadri, Kurmali, Santali, Kharia and more)
- Missing identity and foundational documents
- Low awareness of schemes and entitlements
- Travel costs, lost wages and dependence on middlemen
Objective
The project aims to:
- Ensure last-mile delivery of public scheme information and entitlements through grassroots outreach and digital tools.
- Build sustainable linkages between vulnerable households and government institutions through community facilitation, training, and advocacy.
- Promote digital and financial inclusion among the Tea Tribe and Adivasi populations, enabling informed and independent access to services.
- Empower communities with the knowledge, skills, and platforms needed to claim their rights and entitlements effectively.
- Strengthen local capacities to reduce dependency and foster self-reliant, digitally aware communities capable of navigating government systems and services.
How HaqDisha Works
Our Approach
Community Fellows
17 trained HaqDisha Fellows who survey, guide, and mobilize local communities.
Digital ONE Centres
Service hubs in tea estates providing entitlement access, applications, and digital services.
Digital Tools
Use of the HaqDisha App, SIRISH Scholarship Portal, and community Wi-Fi to bridge digital gaps.
Capacity Building
Training on government portals, digital tools, and financial literacy for long-term empowerment.
Advocacy & Outreach
Awareness meetings, entitlement camps, and strong collaboration with Panchayats and welfare bodies.
Access to Rights & Schemes
Support for pensions, scholarships, healthcare, housing, and social protection schemes.
Know the gaps
A 100% household entitlement survey maps missing documents and benefits.
Build local leaders
Local youth are trained as HaqDisha Fellows (Soochna Mitras).
Bring services close
Digital HaqDisha Kendras are set up inside the tea gardens.
Reach every household
Camps, home visits and local-language content.
Work with the system
Panchayats, unions, departments, banks and garden management.
Four levels of entitlements
Identity
Birth certificate, caste certificate, PRC, Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN.
Statutory
Ration card, MGNREGA job card, Provident Fund and pension.
Schemes
Scholarships, income support, health cover and housing.
Protection
Pensions, insurance and e-Shram social security.
Built together with partners who share the vision
HaqDisha has been taken forward with the support of partners. Each partnership has its own story, learnings and results. Explore them below.
HaqDisha under NEDFi (CSR)
Supported through NEDFi's CSR programme, this partnership took HaqDisha to Tea Tribe & Adivasi communities in Jorhat.
- Community fellows and Digital ONE Centres
- Household surveys and entitlement support
- Reports and learnings
HaqDisha under NFI
A second partnership that carried the HaqDisha model forward with its own community focus and approach.
- Local fellows and service centres
- Baseline survey and household follow-up
- Reports and learnings
Read, partner or get in touch
Download the HaqDisha report, or write to us if you would like to bring HaqDisha to more communities.