SHGs Show the Future of Education Lies in Community and Connectivity

Updated: November 25, 2025 18:03

Image Source : Hindustan Times

Women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across India are pioneering solutions to the country’s learning crisis by bridging access gaps through trusted community networks and digital tools. Initiatives like the Top Parent app, rolled out in 22 states, empower mothers to support foundational learning at home, transforming education at the grassroots.

Amidst India's vast learning divide, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) emerge as powerful catalysts for change by leveraging community trust and digital technology. With over 90 lakh SHGs strongly embedded in local communities, these groups—mainly composed of women—create an effective bridge connecting families to educational resources.

A pilot project partnering Central Square Foundation and Hand in Hand India introduced the free Top Parent app to SHG mothers in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. This app offers fun, bite-sized learning activities for children aged 3 to 8, extending to older siblings based on demand. Through regular SHG meetings and facilitator support, mothers were trained to download and use the app, overcoming initial apprehensions about digital tools.

Trust proved vital: SHG facilitators reassured parents about app safety, building confidence that enabled sustained usage. Recognition programs motivated consistent engagement. Early results demonstrate that embedding EdTech in trusted networks increases digital adoption and narrows learning gaps significantly.

This scalable approach capitalizes on India’s widespread smartphone penetration and affordable internet, reaffirming SHGs' role beyond financial inclusion to becoming pivotal in educational empowerment.

Key Highlights:

India has over 90 lakh SHGs, mostly women-led groups deeply trusted in communities

Top Parent app launched in five states through Central Square Foundation and Hand in Hand India partnership

App supports foundational learning for 3-8-year-olds, expanding to older children

SHG facilitators provide hands-on app training and ongoing encouragement

Trusted SHG networks overcome digital adoption barriers like fear of scams

Pilot shows promise for scalable, community-driven EdTech to bridge learning gaps

Initiative supported by LiftEd Accelerator, backed by Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Reliance Foundation, and UBS Optimus Foundation

Sources: Hindustan Times, Central Square Foundation, Hand in Hand India, LiftEd Accelerator