The art of clicking a perfect selfie, sending a text via WhatsApp, ordering food online, or booking a cab were some of the tasks that secured a spot on the digital learning wish-list of the elderly persons.

According to a survey conducted before the coronavirus-induced lockdown, 60% of elders felt that their children do not have time to help them with technology-related lessons.

The survey was carried out by HelpAge India, a non-governmental organisation that works towards the care and upliftment of the disadvantaged older persons in the country. The analysis took inputs from 1,580 elderly persons across several cities in eight states, reported The Times of India.

It revealed that more than half of the participants were keen on learning how to use online banking portals, paying utility bills, ordering food, and medicines online. Others wanted to make the most of the technology and also learn how to use Google Maps, create email accounts, and use video-calling applications.

Around 47% of senior citizens learned how to use digital devices on their own, followed by those who were taught by their sons (25%) and daughters (18%).

The study brought to the fore, the fact that the country’s senior citizens, who had been struggling to keep up with the technological advancements, were hit severely with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This social exclusion had also led to problems of anxiety and loneliness amongst them.

To tackle this issue head-on, 26-year-old Mahima Bhalotia from Maharashtra’s Mumbai has been spearheading an initiative to digitally empower the elderly citizens.

With her initiative, The Social Paathshaala, Mahima donned the role of a coach and has been conducting online sessions on digital learning for her special students who are aged above 50.

‘The COVID times forced a lot of elderly people to stay indoors to keep themselves safe and most of them were technologically handicapped due to their lack of knowledge of the digital world.

My father’s frequent discussions with his fellow senior citizen-friends revolved around how they had to depend on their acquaintances and kids to order groceries and medicines online. It was always my wish to do something meaningful, but due to my corporate life stint, I never had the chance to start something of my own which would be fulfilling as well as fun. After losing my job to the COVID crisis, I finally made up my mind to kickstart the program,’ Mahima told The Logical Indian.

Mahima explained the reasons for taking up a cause that practically required an immense amount of patience especially when it had to be conducted virtually.

‘I wanted to find happiness in what I do. My family encouraged me to start The Social Paathshala as they believed that I could help senior citizens in technology due to my compassionate and loving nature.

When I started reading about an increase in the number of fraud cases during the pandemic, I noticed that the majority consisted of senior citizens and the first thing that came to my mind was to know the reason. I discovered that a lack of awareness of the online world was behind such incidents, then I took it upon myself to provide something valuable to that age group.

The first session of the initiative was for my extended family in Kolkata who learned some basic, yet useful WhatsApp features. They always thought that WhatsApp is so basic, isme kya sikhaogi (what will you teach us?)’ but I knew few things which would definitely help them. Since then, there has been no looking back,’ said the young socialpreneur.

Describing the mechanism of her digital paathshala, Mahima said that virtual sessions are organised every Sunday from 11 am to 12:30 pm and charged at ₹99 per person for one session. This time session has been decided after taking into account several requirements and comfort of the elderly.

The interested bunch can reach out over a call or through a WhatsApp text. After a discussion with the interested candidates, they get to join the sessions for the topics they like and choose.

‘All the online sessions are conducted with a lot of patience, interaction, and perseverance. A maximum of 25-30 participants has been allowed in the sessions as it requires a lot of hands-on practice during the class. The students are treated like friends so that they don’t hesitate to stop us and ask doubts.

Classes usually start with a round of applause to acknowledge their efforts to learn something new at this age. The class is 95% practical demonstration class queries and aspects related to both android and iOS users are covered. The topics range from basic to intermediate concepts about social media and the digital world,’ explained Mahima.

Spilling beans on how the idea of making the older generation tech-savvy dawned on her, Mahima told The Logical Indian that it was a year-old initiative which culminated in her office canteen.

On one particular day during the lunch, Mahima’s boss confided in her about the frantic calls that he was receiving from her mo…