Kerala woman’s digital initiative gains national attention

Alappuzha: Need to apply for a passport or PAN card? Want to register for central schemes or withdraw money from your bank account? Don’t worry about the time. Just visit the Thanneermukkom Common Service Centre (CSC) and get everything done with the help of the local entrepreneur S. Priya.

Priya has been recently recognized as Kerala's Best Female CSC Entrepreneur by the Central Government. Operating from eight in the morning to nine at night, Priya ensures that the community's needs are met efficiently.

Priya’s round-the-clock service resulted in a record 47,819 digital transactions in the last financial year. This remarkable achievement earned her an award from Union Minister Jitin Prasada at a ceremony in Delhi.

A B.Com graduate and homemaker, Priya ventured into entrepreneurship after assisting her husband Prashanth in his online and photo editing studio. She decided to delve into digital services through the CSC under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. In 2018, she registered online, passed the necessary exams, and set up her service centre next to her home.

Initially, Priya and her husband managed the operations alone. As the demand grew for services such as issuing passports, aadhaar registrations, birth certificates, and banking, so did the business. They eventually expanded, hiring four permanent and four temporary employees. Last year, the centre handled digital transactions worth over Rs 12.5 crore.

The CSC also offers home visits for individuals with disabilities and the elderly, ensuring inclusivity in their services. Additionally, Priya’s centre provides free basic computer and CSC courses to students, further contributing to her community.

Priya lives in Thanneermukkom, Alappuzha, with her husband Prashanth and their children, Parvati and Pranav.