New Delhi

Age is just a number and never a barrier to keep up with the changing times. MA Abdullah Maulavi Kerala has proved as at the age of 105 years, he is as good at using his smartphone as a teen ager.

During the COVID-19-induced lockdown, Abdullah Maulvi did not get newspapers delivered to his home. Being an avid news buff, he picked up a smartphone as an alternative.

Today, he enjoys scrolling through social media for reels and other content, searching news on YouTube, logging on to prayer songs on his son's smartphone, and making video calls to his grandson abroad.

Abdullah of of Oddakali in Ernakulam district’s Peerambavoor, was one of the 2.2 million people who received digital education under the Kerala government's 'Digi Keralam' scheme. The campaign has changed the way of life for people in the state. 

Locals taking a selfie with MA Abdullah Maulavi

"When newspapers stopped coming to my house during the lockdown, my father asked me if it was possible to read the news on the phone," said Faizal Ali, son of Abdullah Maulvi.

That question was his first step toward digital literacy. He and his children later supported the Patriarch’s wishes. His grandson Shakir was the first to teach him the use of a smartphone.

Faizal said a 'Digi Keralam' volunteer from Asmanur Gram Panchayat visited their house during this period and trained his father. This enabled the 105-year-old to become digitally literate and independently use a smartphone. Using voice typing, he now looks up news on YouTube. He makes video calls every day to his grandson Shakir, who now lives abroad and was instrumental in steering him into the digital world.

At first, Abdullah Maulavi relied on his son's and grandchildren’s smartphones. Kerala Minister MB Rajesh presented the eldest digitally literate Malayalee with a smartphone at his home.

Minister Rajesh asked the cleric what difficulty he faced in his learning. "Everything was easy," the cleric replied with a smile. He even demonstrated how he uses YouTube and made a video call.

The cleric told the minister that he would also call him on his phone.

There are many success stories of the Digi Kerala campaign.

MA Abdullah Maulvi using his smartphone

A 79-year-old worker, who opposed digital education, has now launched his YouTube channel. Sulchana, 80, now accesses government services through her mobile phone, independently.

According to officials, Kerala would soon be declared the first digitally literate state in the country, with 99.98 percent of students acquiring basic digital skills.

On September 22, 2022, the Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) launched the ambitious campaign. Under this, digitally illiterate persons are identified and trained in the use of smartphones, access to online government services, and the use of digital tools.

LSGD minister, M B Rajesh, said that 21,87,677 digitally illiterate persons identified through a survey were trained to use digital tools effectively. Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan will declare Kerala a fully digitally literate state at a function at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram in August.

He said, "A Digital literacy program is being implemented on the lines of the full literacy movement. We felt the need for total digital literacy when government services, especially the LSGD department services, went online.

A Digi Keralam Vounteer teaching a woman how to use her smartphone

"When we implemented the initiative to put all our department’s services online, the digital literacy initiative was also undertaken simultaneously, to digitally empower people,” the minister explained.

LSGD Principal Director Jeromic George said, Digi Keralam has been launched to enable every citizen to access and benefit from e-governance and digital services.

This is not just a government program, but a people’s movement, connecting generations and communities. More than 15,000 of these digital learners are over the age of 90, including sources of inspiration like Abdullah Maulavi. 

"During the pandemic, we used to see long queues in front of the only bank in our village," said an official who conceptualized and led the digital literacy drive in Pullampara. They were just queuing up to see if the MGNREGA wages had been credited to their accounts. Some even spent ₹200-300 to go to the bank by auto just to check their balance.

"If they were digitally literate, they would be able to check their balances on their mobile phones, and that thought inspired the Panchayat authorities to start planning a digital literacy drive."

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The Kerala Institute of Local Administration developed training modules suitable for the entire state. "Then we started volunteer registration. Master trainers were identified, and trainers were trained through them. They, in turn, imparted training to the volunteers. The training sessions were almost online," Minister Rajesh said.