After months of research, planning and coordination, I had my very first flagship workshop for Workers of India to raise awareness about the e-Shram card. It also marked a day I gave my first presentation in Hindi - a language I understand but I have never spoken in formally with anyone. I had put out ads, distributed flyers. I wasn’t sure how many people would show up if any at all. As the time for the workshop was approaching, the people started coming in. And suddenly it was a full house. I gave them a booklet that I worked on all summer that talked about different things such as e-Shram benefits, semi formalization of the informal sector, financial literacy, etc.
People listened to me intently and at the end of the workshop I had promised that I would help some of them register for the e-Shram card. Again, I was anticipating only a few people would stay back for the registration. However, most of them stayed back and the news spread and suddenly I had around a 100 people in the room. I helped around 30-40 of them register. I collected phone numbers for the rest of them and I plan on having a follow up registration session soon so that I can complete their registration as well.
The feeling that I could spread awareness and help people who help us was an undeniably good one. This is just the beginning.
