Guwahati, July 17: In the remote hills of Eastern West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, a quiet digital revolution has been underway—led not by a bureaucrat or tech giant, but by Rose Angelina M. Kharsyntiew, a woman who turned her village internet kiosk into a hub of empowerment.
As India marks 10 years of the Digital India programme, Rose’s story was spotlighted during the national celebration at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi, where she was honoured for her decade-long contribution as a Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) under the Common Services Centre (CSC) scheme.
Back in 2015, Rose was a job seeker in the small town of Mairang. Today, she is not just a job provider but a recognised leader in digital empowerment. Operating her digital service hub “Rose CSC,” she has become a one-woman force for change, offering access to government schemes, banking, insurance, telemedicine, and online education in a region where digital access was once a distant dream.
But her impact doesn’t stop there. Rose also launched Stree Swabhiman, a local sanitary pad manufacturing unit, improving menstrual hygiene awareness and creating employment for women in her community. Her efforts blend technology with dignity, service with sustainability.
“Amidst the scenic hills and remote villages of Eastern West Khasi Hills, Rose Angelina has scripted a digital revolution,” said Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during the event. “She’s not just delivering services—she’s transforming lives.”
India’s CSC network has grown exponentially—from 83,000 in 2014 to more than 5.5 lakh centres, covering 90% of the country’s villages. Women like Rose, part of the 74,000+ strong female VLE workforce, have been central to this expansion, proving that digital inclusion is not just about access but about agency.
The event also saw the announcement of the next phase of Digital India, with initiatives like free AI training for 10 lakh youth and enhanced tools for VLEs. As the programme evolves, changemakers like Rose Angelina are expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring that the digital revolution reaches every corner of the country, one village at a time.
