Assam teacher trains mothers in digital skills to combat child marriage

A school teacher in Assam has launched a grassroots programme that teaches mothers basic digital skills such as using smartphones, accessing government services online and navigating social media. The initiative, begun in early 2024, targets rural households where women often lack formal education and internet exposure. By equipping mothers with digital tools, the teacher hopes to broaden their access to information and resources.

The workshops are held in community centres and village schools, with sessions covering topics like online health portals, digital banking and safe internet practices. Participants report increased confidence in handling everyday tasks, from paying utility bills to checking school notices for their children. The teacher links this empowerment to a decline in child marriage, noting that informed mothers are more likely to resist early marriage proposals for their daughters.

Local leaders and a few NGOs have praised the effort, offering logistical support and modest funding to expand the programme to neighboring villages. The teacher plans to scale the model across the district, aiming to reach hundreds of mothers by the end of the year, with the ultimate goal of creating a digitally literate community that can collectively challenge harmful traditions.