“Social media activism has given my life meaning”
Socially conscious Charubala, aka Deepa Barik, tweets about people’s problems, bringing them to the Odisha government’s attention. Inspired after seeing the destitution of a couple devastated by the 2019 cyclone, her tweets have helped more than 3,000 people get problems resolved. Read about her work in her own words.
I’m from a lower-middle class family.
My father is a marginal farmer and my mother is an anganwadi (government child care centre) worker.
In my village I saw how marginalised people struggled to make ends meet.
Seeing their everyday struggles, from a young age I wanted to serve them. But I had no idea how to help.
Then in 2019, my parents gifted me a smartphone for my 23rd birthday.
One of my mentors, Dibas Kumar Sahu – a primary school teacher – is a social media activist. His work fascinated me and I thought I could do the same. He taught me the basics of using my phone and tweeting for social media activism.
My very first tweet was in 2019. Cyclone Fani had wreaked havoc in our region.
The thatched house of an elderly man called Soukilal was completely destroyed. He and his wife had a tough time finding shelter.
I couldn’t bear to see their plight.
So my first tweet was about them, requesting the government to provide financial assistance so that the old couple could repair their house.
I tagged the top administrators. Within two days of my tweet an officer visited the village. And within a week Soukilal received Rs 98,000 to construct his house.
I was so happy and overwhelmed. It boosted my confidence and energy and encouraged me to go ahead with social media activism.
To learn about the welfare schemes I watch the news on TV, follow Odisha government’s tweets and check ministries’ websites.
If some scheme is not clear, I clarify it with the officials concerned.
I spend about two hours every morning, scanning the newspapers to identify pressing problems.
Many people also call me when they can’t get some government benefit or about a common problem in their village.
When I can’t visit the places, I talk to the people over phone, get photos and videos from them to make sure that the problems are real.
About 80% of my tweets lead to immediate action. For the rest, I don’t get frustrated, but keep following up with the officers concerned.
Some local organisations have recognised my work through awards.
But when my tweet helps a villager get a government pension or distressed migrant labourers return home, I’m immensely happy and content.
My parents are supportive of my work in social media activism.
I want to become a teacher. I’m doing postgraduation in botany. I set aside time for my studies too, because I strongly believe where there’s a will, there’s a way.
I’ve never faced any problems because of my social media activism or felt that it wasn’t worth my time and effort.
In fact, my work has given a meaning to my life. So I’ll continue my activism and serve people.
Read here about the pressing problems Deepa Barik helped resolve after tweeting about them.
Reporting by Sarada Lahangir, a Bhubaneswar-based journalist who writes about development, conflict, gender, health and education. Photographs by Sarada Lahangir and Himanshu.