Saral Services

Who are we

Society for Action Research in Accelerated Livelihood Services (Saral Services) is a Registered Society, launched on 25th January 2005, to address the issue of digital divide. Our society has many divides, one of them is digital divide. There are people who have exposure to digital world, who are digitally rich and can leverage the power of information and communication technology (ICT). Digital divide widens the gap between the two groups, digitally rich and digitally poor. We witness public and private efforts to put the information technology infrastructure in digitally poor areas to reduce this divide. Government has launched broadband and is setting up large network of kiosks in the rural areas. However, the gap cannot be reduced by simply putting the infrastructure in place. Efforts are also required to enhance the capacity of the people to utilize this IT infrastructure effectively.

What we do

Saral aims to empower rural and social agencies working with the poor with the power of ICT to bridge the digital divide. It seeks to not only encourage society to invest in ICT infrastructure in digitally poor areas but also enhance the utilization of ICT infrastructure. Saral Services plans to work on multiple services such as micro finance, livelihood, health, education and training in rural area.

Why Saral Services

Capacity building of individuals and institutions ever growing area of concern especially when it comes to bridging the digital divide. Not paying attention to aspects of digital divide, economic divide has enhanced. Mainstream institutions of human resource development primarily focus on general subject specific area in depth. During the COVID 19, there were travel restrictions all over the world. Digital divide was much more visible. During this period people having knowledge about digital tools have been able to have their life as normal. A large number of people not having digital skill were badly affected. Founders of Saral Services decided to work socially disadvantaged people and institutions working for them, in building their capacity of digital literacy.

2024

Saral Services made significant strides in bridging the digital divide and improving education in rural areas. Through the ASHA project, we supported 493 weaker students across 10 government middle schools in Nalanda District, successfully transforming 275 students into fluent readers. Our Digikul training center provided 3-month digital literacy courses to 40 youths and introduced computer orientation classes for 28 school students. These efforts, supported by partners like Cochin Shipyard and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, have collectively strengthened digital skills and improved educational outcomes for rural communities.

2023

We started Bagless Saturday in 10 Schools. In addition, special classes were held by our ASP for children who were unable to read and write. We covered 352 weak students who were unable to read and write in Hindi with support from RGF. During the year we started physical training in Vidyapith school where Saral rendered training on basic digital tools in physical format.

During the training we have conducted online events:
1. Chess Tournament
2. We started training on digital technology - DIGIKUL

2022

We started another batch of online training on digital technology - DISHA III. RGF had extended their support. During the year 113 youth were trained for 3 month duration training on MS office, Online meeting tools, playing games online, accessing educational material online, purchasing online using Amazon and FlipKart. Trainees also learnt video and photo editing tools such as Paintastic, Kinemaster and Powerdirector. There were students from Hyderabad, Bihar, Bhopal, Mumbai, Delhi, Assam and Tamil Nadu

During the training we have conducted online events:
1. Chess Tournament
2. App presentation Challenges - liches
3. Online Exams on google forms

2021

We started online training on digital technology - DISHA II which was supported by RGF. During the year, more than 100 youth were trained for 3 month duration training on MS office, Online meeting tools, playing games online, access educational material online, purchasing online using Amazon and Flipkart. Also learnt video and photo editing tools such as Paintastic, Kinemaster and Powerdirector. There were students from Assam and Manipur as well.

During the training, we have conducted online events such as
1. Chess Tournament - liches
2. App presentation Challenges
3. Online examination - Google forms.
With support from E2E Bangalore, we created 18 Swadhyay centers for addressing the learning deficit caused due to COVID19, covering 200 children from two Schools.

2020

With support from RGF online training started on Basic Digital Technologies (known as Safal100B) with 42 people with disability (PwD). Another four CSO and a Government entity IWAI also sent their 20 staff for the same training. This was three months training started on August 20, 2020 (Sadbhavana Diwas). Thus the tutorial groups are known as Sadbhavana Swadhyay Whatsapp Groups.

2019

After a long hit and trial in the social system, Saral Services developed concept of Yuva Swadhyay Samuh (YSS) and AVBA learning and coaching center for children upto class 10. This was headed by Mr. Makeshwar Yadav, a graduate in English who is also a farmer and teaches children of the village.

2018

• In collaboration with Manjari Foundation, introduced technology for 7000 groups of women in Rajasthan for reducing their drudgery of women in accounting and reporting thereby building their capacity to deal with mainstream market
• In collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, worked with people with disability (PwD) in enhancing their access to opportunity (ATO) by enhancing their mobility. Our role was to set up IT platform and portal.
• In collaboration with Ragiv Gandhi Foundation , worked with children in conflict in extending scholarship all over India. Our role was to set up the IT platform to manage the program.
• When the Unicef decided to close the project in 2017, Saral used the learning to set up action research project on AVBA learning center in Darima of Jamui District in the campus of Assefa, Bihar. This is the place where Vinoba Bhabe had got Bhoo Daan, we started Gyan Daan by setting up AVBA learning center.

2014

Saral Services worked with 2000 KGBV girls of class 6, 7 and 8 in 20 Schools of Nalanda District. Several initiatives were taken impacting these girls. We evolved ten activities that impacted the quality of learning in these Schools –

Swadhyay Groups of 7-10 girls where we learn peer to peer, learn to help and support and learn how to build a team to win. Later integrate with Bal sansad structure and process.
Know your village (KYV) – This was very popular and fun learning to learn and do research in their own village.
Writing Diary (WD) – All the girls to encouraged them to write Diary. Learn to express with freedom. Shun all inhibitions. Diary became their favourit teacher. Some children called id the GoD.
Learning Language using 5S concept
Practical Mathematics
Experiments in Science – learning the scientific temperament
Group Activities integrated learning (GAIL) – Once a month, students shall present their talent as a group activities such as drama, dance, painting, Kabbadi, Quiz, Singing….
Parents and teachers meeting –
Virtual lab using computer and Internet
Future Roadmap Workshops

2012

ICCO, India supported Value Chain development project in Nalanda District. We worked on two commodities Musterd and Chilli. IGS has built a Farmers Producers Company in Biharsharif. Saral Services then built the relationship with the same FPC to promote the Musterd and Chilli.

2011

Baseline Survey of 50 Government Schools in Nalanda and Vaishali District of Bihar to understand the role of Bala Sansad, Meena Manch, School Management Committee and Parent Teachers Association (PTA). The survey study was supported by UNICEF, Patna. The study report was published in 2013. This highlighted the role of Bala Sansand

Saral Services started Gyan Abhiyan Cycle Yatra (GACY). This yatra was conducted in Nalanda District and covered 50 Government Schools and shared the methods to improve the quality of education

2009

Study of Management information system of large government program supported by IFAD in Uttrakhand. This study was done in 2008-9. However the Report is published/uploaded in 2013 and is available https://www.scribd.com/document/186028360/MANAGEMENT-INFORMATION-SYSTEMS-STUDY-USING-PARTICIPATORY-PROCESSES-FOR-AAJEEVIKA-UPASaC-field-study-by-proffessionals-2013

Started field project in Nalanda District for setting up Computer Aided Learning Centers (CALC) supported by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. This was an initiative to set up community supported learning centers and Government School supported computer centers.

2007

Saral Services collaborated with a IT company Safal Solutions to train the staff of BRLP in Bihar who were using SafalFin, an application of MIS to reduce the drudgery of women from accounting and reporting as a result of impacting the capacity building of the women

Started Saral Training Academy to train rural youths with skills of managing MIS for BRLP. This was 4 months residential course in Hyderabad to make them Information Technology Field Technician (ITFT). About 100 ITFT were trained over 2 years and deployed in BRLP and UPASAC and with other CSOs

In collaboration with Shefield Hallam University, UK, a survey study was conducted and a paper was published on “Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Survey of District Central Cooperatives Banks(DCCB) and Micro FinanceInstitutions(MFIs) in India” This was published by Dr. Rizvi; available at https://www.academia.edu/7682006/Information_and Communication_Technology_ICT_Survey_of_District_Central Cooperatives_Banks_DCCB_and_Micro_Finance_Institutions_MFIs in_India

2006

Training of Civil Service Organization staff in using automated management information systems for helping women of Self Help Groups in Karnataka and 50 CSO partners of Christian Children Fund