Wayanad Village: Wildlife Meets Technology

Seetha Mount, nestled on the Kabani River which marks the border between Kerala and Karnataka, experiences frequent intrusions from wildlife. Animals such as monkeys, wild boars, and deer from the adjacent Bandipur forest range regularly venture into the village, damaging crops. While the village is accustomed to these disruptions, rare visits by elephants or tigers instill significant fear.

Bindu Renjith, a farm labourer, and her husband Renjith PR, a house painter, reside in this village. Bindu acquired her first smartphone during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily to facilitate her daughters' online education. The pandemic-driven shift to remote learning opened new avenues for the family.

Beyond their academic pursuits, Bindu's teenage daughters discovered the convenience of online shopping through various applications installed on the new device. This technological adoption brings a modern dimension to life in the village, juxtaposed against the challenges posed by its wild neighbors and the unique geographical setting.