Strengthening Social Protection for citizens through technological innovation

The specific problem that we at Haqdarshak are addressing is the lack of awareness, accessibility to government welfare programs, and the overall complexity surrounding the government welfare programs in India. This issue leads to low government welfare program/ documentation application rates, inefficient allocation of funds, and exclusion of marginalized and vulnerable communities from essential social security nets.

The scale of the problem is substantial both locally in India and globally. As per a report published by World Bank, in India alone, more than 800 million citizens are eligible for various welfare programs, including social security, direct cash benefits, and documentation services, with a government budget of US $210 billion, annually. Despite the vast amount of resources allocated, there is a significant underutilization of these funds due to barriers such as lack of information, complex application processes, and high transaction costs.

Globally, poverty remains a pervasive issue, with nearly 1.3 billion people living on less than $3.10 a day, according to the World Bank. Over 250 million people survive on less than $2 a day. While the specific challenges may vary across different regions and countries, the overarching problem of inadequate access to social welfare services persists, contributing to cycles of poverty and inequality.

Factors contributing to this problem include:

• Lack of awareness: Many individuals, particularly in rural areas and marginalized communities, are unaware of the government programs they are eligible for and how to access them.

• Complex application processes: Government welfare programs often have lengthy and non-standardized application procedures, making it difficult for individuals to navigate and apply for benefits.

• High transaction costs: The effort, money, and time required to apply for welfare programs can be restrictive, especially for those relying on daily wages or lacking the means to visit government offices multiple times.

• Information gap: There is no centralized platform or comprehensive source of information where citizens can learn about available schemes and their eligibility criteria, leading to missed opportunities for assistance.

At Haqdarshak, we aim to address these challenges by providing last-mile assistance and support to individuals seeking to access government welfare programs. By leveraging technology and community-based networks, we aim to bridge the gap between citizens and social security services, ensuring that eligible individuals receive the support they are entitled to. Our solution not only helps individuals navigate the application process but also increases the efficiency and effectiveness of welfare program implementation, ultimately contributing to poverty reduction and social inclusion.

Our solution is a unique tech-enabled intervention aimed at reducing the information gap and improving access to government welfare programs for citizens, with a special focus on the rural and marginalized communities, apart from the urban and semi-urban areas. At its core, the solution consists of a mobile and web platform, as well as a physical Yojana card™, complemented by a network of trained women rural entrepreneurs majorly who provide application support to citizens.

The Haqdarshak app serves as a comprehensive repository of over 7000 Central and State Government welfare programs and services, presented in 14+ languages commonly spoken across India. It features an eligibility engine that matches citizens with programs they qualify for based on the data collected by field agents. The app can be used both online and offline, making it accessible even in areas with limited internet connectivity. The field agents, also known as Haqdarshaks, utilize the app to track the progress of applications, upload documents for verification, and send SMS notifications to citizens regarding their application status. Additionally, a monitoring dashboard provides insights into the agents' performance metrics. This also empowers the women from these communities and provides an additional livelihood opportunity for them.

Recently, Haqdarshak had introduced the Yojana card™, a physical identification card that carries citizens' profile information. This card not only serves as a means of quickly identifying eligible welfare services but also facilitates financial inclusion by linking citizens to a financial institution. Through this linkage, citizens can access banking services and receive direct benefit transfers from welfare programs, thereby enhancing their financial empowerment.

Technologically, the platform is built on open-source technologies such as PHP, Python, Angular, Vue, Quasar, and HTML/CSS, with a MySQL database. The mobile app is a hybrid Android application supporting 14+ languages and functioning offline. Hosting is done on AWS, with ongoing efforts to transition towards a more service-oriented architecture leveraging cloud-native capabilities. Additionally, Haqdarshak utilizes a WhatsApp-based chatbot developed on a conversational AI platform to further enhance accessibility and user engagement.

In essence, Haqdarshak's solution leverages technology to ease access to government welfare programs, empowering citizens with information, support, and financial inclusion opportunities. Through the integration of digital platforms, field agent networks, and physical identification cards, we are trying to bridge the gap between citizens and social security services, ultimately fostering greater equity and inclusion in society.

[Here]is a video demo showcasing our solution in action.

Our solution is tailored to serve marginalized and vulnerable citizens, as well as micro, small, and nano enterprises, who face barriers in accessing government welfare programs and financial services due to information gaps, complicated application processes, and high opportunity costs.

In India, an estimated 810 million citizens are eligible for free food grains under the National Food Security Act, yet many of them remain unenrolled in various government welfare programs due to a lack of awareness and difficulty navigating the application process. Additionally, marginalized communities such as LGBTQIA+ individuals, sex workers, and the homeless require support in documentation and enrollment to access social welfare benefits.

Moreover, India is home to approximately 63 million micro and small entrepreneurs who struggle with incomplete formalization, hindering their access to credit linkage programs provided by the government.

While the Government of India has established Citizen Service Centers (CSCs) to assist citizens and entrepreneurs in accessing government programs, these centers often fall short in helping beneficiaries identify eligible programs and navigate the application process effectively. 

Our solution directly addresses these challenges by leveraging a network of field agents who use our app to screen citizens and entrepreneurs for eligibility across various government programs. The information collected is stored in Yojana cards™, physical identification cards equipped with QR codes, which are then distributed to the intended beneficiaries. This process fills the information gap and empowers beneficiaries with knowledge about the programs they are eligible for.

Furthermore, our agent network provides hands-on support to applicants, assisting them in filling out application forms, submitting applications to relevant government departments, and ensuring they receive the benefits they are entitled to. This personalized end-to-end assistance streamlines the application process and increases the uptake of government welfare programs among underserved populations.

In addition to facilitating access to welfare programs, we are also planning to partner with financial service providers to expand the functionality of the Yojana cards™, enabling beneficiaries to access banking services, enroll in insurance schemes, and access credit facilities. This integration of financial services will further enhance the socio-economic empowerment of marginalized citizens and entrepreneurs.

Overall, our solution aims to directly and meaningfully improve the lives of marginalized populations and micro-enterprises by bridging the gap between them and government welfare programs, promoting financial inclusion, and unlocking opportunities for socioeconomic advancement.

Our team at Haqdarshak is uniquely positioned to deliver this solution due to our deep roots in the communities we serve and our extensive experience working with local stakeholders and government entities.

We have a proven track record of providing access to government programs to over 6 million Indian citizens, operating in 25 states across the country, including challenging regions such as Jammu and Kashmir. Our team comprises more than 45,000+ field agents, carefully selected from the communities we serve, ensuring that we have a deep understanding of their needs and challenges.

Our proximity to these communities allows us to gain unique insights into their requirements, demographic details, access to financial services, and overall financial well-being. Through our interactions with local stakeholders, including government officers, women's self-help groups, and farmers' producer groups, we have developed a nuanced understanding of community dynamics and priorities.

Furthermore, our team members, including our founder and CEO Aniket Doegar, have a social sector background and previous experience working directly with the marginalized communities. It was through these experiences that the idea for Haqdarshak was conceived in 2016, recognizing the gap between available government welfare programs and citizens' access to them.

We actively liaise with government agencies at various levels to understand program details, budgets, and implementation status. This collaboration allows us to align our efforts with government objectives and maximize citizen enrollment in welfare programs.

Our solution is not just informed by our team's expertise but is also guided by community input, ideas, and agendas. We prioritize community engagement and feedback throughout the design and implementation process, ensuring that our solution meets the real needs of the people we serve.

Overall, our team's deep understanding of community dynamics, extensive experience working with local stakeholders and government entities, and commitment to community-driven solutions uniquely position us to design and deliver impactful interventions that improve the lives of marginalized populations and micro-enterprises across India.

We believe Haqdarshak is at the Scale stage of development. We have successfully built and deployed our comprehensive solution, which is operational in multiple communities across India, serving millions of citizens and micro-enterprises.

Our solution includes a tech-enabled platform, comprising a mobile and PC application, as well as physical Yojana card™, complemented by a network of trained field agents. This platform digitizes information on over 7000 Central and State Government welfare programs and services, making it accessible in 14+ languages commonly spoken across India. Through our network of over 45,000+ field agents, we provide last-mile assistance and support to citizens and entrepreneurs seeking to access government welfare programs and financial services.

We have conducted extensive testing and iteration to refine our platform and optimize our service delivery model. This testing phase involved pilot implementations in various communities to gather feedback, assess usability, and iterate on design and functionality. As a result, we have achieved a consistent and efficient approach to delivering our solution, ensuring that it meets the diverse needs of our target population.

To date, we have served over 6 million Indian citizens including different target segments such as 5 lakh+ farmers, 2.5 thousand sanitation workers, 1 lakh construction workers etc. The target segment also includes socially excluded groups such as sex workers and transgenders. We have been able to provide these target segments with access to government welfare programs and financial services that they were previously unable to access. Our solution has had a tangible impact on the lives of marginalized populations, empowering them with information, support, and opportunities for socioeconomic advancement.

Beyond our citizen outreach, we've forged partnerships with government agencies, financial service providers, and various stakeholders to broaden our influence. These collaborations have allowed us to efficiently expand our solution, reaching more communities and beneficiaries throughout India.

Overall, our transition to the Scale stage reflects the successful deployment and widespread adoption of our solution, as well as our ongoing efforts to improve and expand our impact. We remain committed to driving positive change and promoting social inclusion through our innovative approach to addressing the challenges of accessing government welfare programs and financial services in India. So far we have unlocked benefit worth INR 17,993 Crore+ (2.4 billion USD) for citizens from different segments. 

We are applying for the Solve Challenge as we believe we can be supported in the following ways:

Access to Resources: MIT Solve offers access to resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities that can help social enterprises like ours scale our impact.

Networking Opportunities: Participating in MIT Solve provides networking opportunities with other innovators, investors, and potential partners, which can help us expand Haqdarshak’s reach and collaborate with like-minded organizations.

Validation and Recognition: Being selected or recognized by MIT Solve can validate Haqdarshak's approach and solutions, increasing the credibility and visibility within the social impact space.

Problem-Solving Support: MIT Solve focuses on addressing global challenges through innovation. By applying to Solve, Haqdarshak can tap into MIT's problem-solving expertise and access a platform specifically designed to tackle pressing societal issues.

Overall, participating in MIT Solve aligns with Haqdarshak's mission to empower communities, especially the marginalised ones and leverage innovative solutions to address social challenges effectively.

The Haqdarshak solution is innovative in several key ways that fundamentally address the challenges faced by marginalized communities in accessing government welfare programs:

1. Comprehensive Digital Platform: Haqdarshak's mobile and web platform acts as a centralized hub for over 7000 government welfare programs, covering a wide range of services. This comprehensive database, available in multiple languages, simplifies the search and application process for citizens who may not have access to reliable information in one place. 

2.  Personalized Eligibility Engine: The solution incorporates an eligibility engine that matches citizens with programs based on their specific criteria. This personalized approach ensures that individuals are directed toward the programs most relevant to their needs and circumstances, optimizing the utilization of welfare funds.

3.  Last-Mile Delivery through Field Agents: Haqdarshak's use of trained field agents, often local women entrepreneurs, represents an innovative last-mile delivery model. These agents provide personalized support and guidance to applicants, addressing the barriers to awareness and complex application processes faced by marginalized communities.

4. Women empowerment and livelihood creation: Haqdarshak's model actively empowers women and local youth by recruiting and training them as field agents (Haqdarshaks) to deliver last-mile assistance. By engaging these entrepreneurs, often from rural areas, Haqdarshak aims to provide them with meaningful employment but also equips them with valuable skills in technology, communication, and community engagement. By creating livelihood opportunities in rural areas, Haqdarshak contributes to economic development and poverty alleviation, particularly benefiting women who often face barriers to formal employment and financial inclusion. 

5. Yojana card™ Integration: The introduction of the Yojana card, a physical identification card carrying citizens' profile information in a QR code and linked to financial institutions, enhances accessibility and financial inclusion. This integrated approach streamlines the identification of eligible services and facilitates direct benefit transfers, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and empowering citizens.

6. Technology-Driven Scalability: Leveraging open-source technologies and a hybrid Android application, Haqdarshak has built a scalable platform capable of serving millions of citizens across diverse regions with varying levels of connectivity. The offline functionality ensures accessibility even in remote areas.

7. Community-Centric Design and Feedback Loop: Haqdarshak's solution is guided by community input and feedback throughout the development process. This community-centric approach ensures that the solution directly addresses the real needs and challenges faced by its users, fostering trust and engagement.

8. Potential for Broader Impact and Market Change: Haqdarshak's innovative approach has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts in the social welfare space. By demonstrating the effectiveness of technology-enabled last-mile delivery and personalized support, Haqdarshak could inspire similar initiatives globally, leading to enhanced access to welfare services and improved outcomes for marginalized populations. 

Activities

Output-Immediate

Outcome-Long term

Development of Haqdarshak Mobile App and Yojana card™

- Comprehensive mobile application with a user-friendly interface and offline accessibility.

- Yojana Cards distributed to citizens, enabling quick identification and access to services.

- Improved awareness and understanding of available welfare programs among citizens, especially in remote areas.

- Reduced barriers to accessing government benefits, leading to increased social security, financial inclusion, and well-being in communities.

- Increased utilization of digital tools and technology among underserved populations, promoting digital inclusion.

Recruitment and Training of Haqdarshaks

- Trained network of local entrepreneurs (Haqdarshaks) equipped with technology and communication skills.

- Creating a trustable resource at local level who has knowledgeable about government welfare programs and application processes.

- Increased economic opportunities for women in rural areas, contributing to gender equality and empowerment.

- Creation of local employment opportunity for youth complemented with 

 enhanced confidence  and leadership skills 

- Strengthened social networks and support systems within communities through local representation and engagement.

Community engagement and Feedback mechanism

- Regular engagement with local communities, government officials, and stakeholders leading to updated scheme awareness and help in navigating the complex application process

- In-house M&E team takes constant feedback from citizens served to capture user experiences and suggestions

- Collaboration with CSR, businesses, and philanthropic organizations to expand outreach and support for targeted beneficiary groups.

- Continuously informed and responsive services tailored to community needs and preferences.

- Wider reach to urban and rural marginalized segments through strategic collaborations, addressing specific needs and promoting social equity.

Field agent support and application assistance 

- Personalized guidance and support provided by Haqdarshaks throughout the application process.

- Real-time application tracking and updates using the mobile app and monitoring dashboard.

- Higher application success rates and reduced instances of errors or incomplete submissions.

- Improved efficiency and effectiveness of welfare program implementation, optimizing resource allocation.

Support for MSME linked schemes

- Facilitation of MSMEs' access to government schemes and support services.

- Provision of assistance in navigating application processes and accessing financial resources.

- Strengthened local economies through increased MSME participation and growth.

- Job creation, income generation, and overall economic development in communities served by Haqdarshak.

Goal

Impact so far

To have the maximum geographical reach

Haqdarshak is present in 25 states, 5 Union territories, 699 districts, and 10,328 Villages 

To reach the maximum number of citizens 

Haqdarshak has reached over 6 Million+ Indians reached 

To provide welfare programs benefit to citizens

Haqdarshak has unlocked INR 17,993 Crore+ (2.4 billion USD) worth of benefits for citizens serviced

To provide Micro, small, and medium enterprise government credit support and documentation coverage

Haqdarshak has assisted 51,135 micro-businesses 

To promote Digital and financial literacy

11.1 lakh individuals were trained/given digital and financial literacy sessions in the last 1 year by Haqdarshak 

Empowerment of women, youth, and creation of local livelihood

45,000+ Haqdashaks (field agents) trained of which 80% are women

Constant product Innovation to provide better social welfare programs linkage and financial inclusion coverage to citizens 

1. Yojana card™: It is on of its kind physical card linked to the individual profile of an individual that enables them to discover and apply for welfare schemes. 

2. Screening as a service integration: It is an API integration to web and APP platforms that enables customers of entities other than Haqdarshak to screen themselves for scheme discovery

Our platform is built on open source technologies such as PHP, Python for the backend,  Angular, Vue, Quasar, HTML/CSS for the front end, and MySQL for our database. The front-end app is a hybrid Angular Android app that supports 12 languages and works offline. We host the platform on AWS and have started re-engineering components towards a more service-oriented architecture leveraging cloud-native capabilities. We also have a WhatsApp-based chatbot designed & developed on a conversational-AI platform.

We are 254 full time staff and 355 contractual staff. In addition to that we have 2400+ agents active on rotational basis. 

We have been working on the solution for 8 years now, beginning in 2016.

At Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions Pvt Ltd, diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to our organizational culture and values. We are proud to have achieved a 50-50 gender ratio within our leadership team, with women occupying key leadership roles, including four out of our five CXO positions. Additionally, our delivery lead and research lead are also women, demonstrating our commitment to gender diversity and inclusion in leadership positions.

To ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members, we have implemented several measures:

• Zero tolerance towards bias: Our Code of Conduct explicitly states our commitment to providing an environment free from harassment, discrimination, and intimidation. We uphold fair employment practices based solely on merit and performance, without regard to gender, caste, creed, religion, language, or race.

• Gender harassment policy: We have established a comprehensive Gender Harassment Policy as per the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace guidelines. This policy covers all employees, regardless of gender, and includes the constitution of an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to prevent, prohibit, and redress instances of sexual harassment. We conduct annual awareness sessions on the prevention of sexual harassment for all employees, with a particular focus on new joiners.

• Internal Grievance Committee (IGC): In addition to the ICC, we have constituted an Internal Grievance Committee to address any non-sexual related grievances or issues raised by employees. This committee ensures fair and objective redressal processes for all grievances, irrespective of gender, caste, creed, religion, language, race, or position within the company.

• HQ Code of Conduct: We have developed a comprehensive Code of Conduct that outlines standards and values applicable to all members of the organization, regardless of designation, gender, vertical, location, or nature of employment. This code serves as a guide for ethical behavior and helps ensure that actions are aligned with the best interests of all stakeholders and the organization as a whole.

Through these initiatives, we strive to create an inclusive work environment where every team member feels valued, respected, and supported. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is not only reflected in our policies and practices but also in our everyday interactions and decision-making processes.

We are a for profit social sector organization registered under Government of India’s Companies Act 2013. Currently, we are in a B2B2C model where most of our projects are financed by Corporates through corporate social responsibility, Philanthropic organizations, etc who want to make an impact in the society and improve the well being of citizens through welfare linkages. However we are also transitioning towards a B2C model where we would be able to directly earn revenue through the citizens in exchange of welfare linkages.

Haqdarshak has adopted a 360 degree approach to identify stakeholders to optimize maximum scheme coverage and financial inclusion. The revenue model for Haqdarshak in the upcoming financial year incorporates corporate social responsibility, impact organizations, philanthropies and businesses (ESG and HR funds). We will also keep our focus continued with  B2C interventions in which our agents will directly charge from citizens for welfare program access. 

We also apply for various grants which help us in designing our product and services and improve our technology.

We have been generating revenue for the past 4 years and have grown at an average rate of 46.39 % YoY in the top line. Revenue for FY 2020-21 was USD 1.4 million,  in FY 2021-22 it increased to USD 1.8 million, USD 3.3 million in FY 2022-23 and upto USD 4.2 million in FY 2023-24. With the new service such as yojana card platform, Service as a solution we believe that 20-30% of our revenue share to come through B2C payments in the coming years.

We also have equity funding from various impact investment funds such as Acumen, Beyond Capital, 3i Partners, Upaya Social Ventures, Impact India investment Partners etc. We have raised a seed round and pre series A1 rounds till date. We will be planning to raise our next round in FY24-25. 

Some examples of how your plan to achieve financial sustainability has been successful so far.

Colgate Palmolive, Tata Steel, Hindustan Unilever (HUL) are some of our important partners from year 2023-2024. We have a goal to link 15,000 women and PwDs with Government welfare schemes with Colgate Palmolive through yojana card and digital & financial awareness, 4,500 workers to cover for TATA steel and 10,000 Micro, small and medium enterprises to be linked to credit schemes with HUL.

We have also won a grant of USD 155k from Convergence Finance in March 2023 for designing linkage program for farmers. 

In our equity seed round, we raised USD 1 million from Acumen, Upaya Social ventures, 3i partners and Beyond Capital. Our Pre-Series A1 Round was closed in April 2023 which included our existing investors and also added new investors such as Innovating Justice Fund and Village Capital.