Cyber Bandhu | Doorstep Digital Assistance for Students

Community-driven platform connecting rural students with trusted local digital experts for form-filling, scholarship applications, and online services—bridging the digital divide with affordable doorstep support.

About The Project

Cyber Bandhu addresses digital barriers faced by students in rural and semi-urban areas. Students post requests for help with college admissions, scholarships, exam registrations, or job applications; verified local student experts visit their homes to provide form-filling, payment assistance, and career guidance. The platform reduces dependency on distant or fraudulent cyber cafés, ensures transparency through ratings and tracking, and empowers local youth with part-time earning opportunities.

Built With

• Frontend: React 18 + TypeScript, Vite, React Router, Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui (Radix UI), TanStack Query, React Hook Form + Zod, Recharts, Next Themes
• Backend: Node.js, Express 5, MongoDB (Mongoose), JWT, CORS
• Payments: Razorpay / UPI Integration (planned)

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js 16+
• npm
• MongoDB running locally (or remote connection)

Backend Setup

cd backend
npm install
# Configure .env with MongoDB URI and JWT secret
node index.js               # or: npx nodemon index.js

Update db/ connection files if using a remote MongoDB instance.

Frontend Setup

cd frontend
npm install
npm run dev                 # Vite dev server

Open http://localhost:5173 (default Vite port).

Usage

• Students/Parents: Create requests for digital assistance (college forms, scholarship applications, exam registrations), track request status, view assigned expert profiles, rate and review completed services.
• Local Experts: Register as digitally skilled volunteers, accept requests, visit homes for doorstep assistance, help with form-filling and payments, build community reputation through feedback.
• Admin/Platform: Verify expert credentials, monitor service quality, manage user reports, ensure secure payments and data privacy.

Features

• Request-based doorstep service model (no travel required for students)
• Trusted local expert verification and assignment
• Real-time tracking and progress monitoring
• Affordable pricing with transparent payment flows (Razorpay/UPI)
• Ratings, reviews, and service summaries for accountability
• Secure data handling (MongoDB, JWT auth)
• Responsive UI with shadcn/ui components and Tailwind CSS
• Dark/light theme support via Next Themes

Project Structure

cyber-bandhu/
├─ backend/
│  ├─ db/              # MongoDB connection and models
│  ├─ index.js         # Express app and routes
│  ├─ .env             # Environment config (MongoDB URI, JWT secret)
│  └─ package.json
├─ frontend/
│  ├─ src/
│  │  ├─ components/   # shadcn/ui components (buttons, forms, dialogs, etc.)
│  │  ├─ pages/        # Route pages (home, requests, expert dashboard, profile)
│  │  ├─ hooks/        # Custom React hooks
│  │  ├─ lib/          # Utilities (Tailwind cn, API clients)
│  │  └─ App.tsx
│  ├─ components.json  # shadcn/ui config
│  ├─ vite.config.ts
│  └─ package.json
├─ LICENSE.md
└─ README.md

Scripts

• Backend: node index.js (or npx nodemon index.js for auto-reload)
• Frontend: npm run dev, npm run build, npm run build:dev, npm run preview

Roadmap

• Integrate Razorpay/UPI payment flows
• Add mobile app (React Native) for broader reach
• Implement geolocation-based expert matching
• Add multilingual support for rural communities
• Launch Cyber-bandhu awareness campaigns and digital literacy workshops
• Scale to multiple regions and partner with schools/NGOs

Contributing

Contributions are welcome. Please open an issue to discuss proposed changes before submitting a PR.

License

See LICENSE.md for details.

Contact

Tuman Sutradhar

• GitHub: https://github.com/tumansutradhar
• Email: connect.tuman@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tumansutradhar/

Project Link: https://github.com/tumansutradhar/cyber-bandhu

Acknowledgments

• React, Vite, shadcn/ui, and Tailwind CSS communities
• Express, Mongoose, and JWT docs
• Community members supporting digital inclusion initiatives