When one mentions INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA, the city that comes to mind is Bangalore in
Karnataka. Known throughout the world as a leader in IT and
innovation, our state’s most famous city is a synonym for “Silicon
Valley” and information technology. But how many of us know
Karnataka beyond Bangaluru? If we mention Manvi, how many would know
that this under developed Taluka in North Karnataka also forms part
of the vibrant, diverse fabric that is Karnataka? Not may, and
that’s the sad reality of many of the neglected and backward
districts, Panchayath, and talukas that exist in this beautiful
state. Plagued by poor literacy, the devadasi system, caste system
child marriage, migration, water scarcity, poverty and drought,
Manvi Taluka, in Raichur district, is one of the most backward
talukas in one of the most backward districts in Karnataka.
Development Focus (DF), in partnership with Vimukti Pothnal, is
piloting an innovative Digital Entrepreneurship programme in this
taluk. The aim of this unique initiative is to create rural
e-entrepreneurs from socially and economically disadvantaged rural
communities. The project, aptly named brigde- IT, is a micro
entrepreneurship programme that attempts to brigde the IT gap
between urban and rural India. It focuses on building the IT and
entrepreneurial skills of rural youth from poor socio-economic
backgrounds, providing them a pathway to earn a livelihood through
e-entrepreneurship. By promoting rural entrepreneurship, the
intervention aims to improve the rural economy, reduce illiteracy
and provide academic inputs to both school going children and adults
through computer education.
Over a period of two years they will undergo training in computer,
internet, and entrepreneurial skills to enable them to become
e-entrepreneurs. As in all our projects, community committees were
formed in 6 panchyaths and sensitized about the project. These
committees came up with criteria, which applied to choose the youth.
The youth, despite having BA/B.ED, degrees, had never touched a
computer before. They had no clue on how to use a computer, or what
their careers would be. Three months into implementation however,
the participants, known as facilitators, have already undergone
training in basic computer usage, MS Word and MS Excel. Each of them
has been provided with a laptop/ notebook, a DLP projector,
speaker’s pen drive and mouse. They can operate a computer with
skill and confidence. Using these tools, they have already made a
remarkable start teaching higher primary school children using
computer based educational software.
Over the next two years the facilitators will undergo intensive and
innovative training in e-entrepreneurship, communication skills, and
confidence building. They have already undergone training in rural
micro business, use of internet, and life skills. Soon they will
meet and learn from local entrepreneurs and leave their villages for
the first time of visit the big city on exposure visits. By the end
of the programme these 16 young people will have the capacity and
the confidence to successfully run e-enterprises in their villages,
providing much needed unique and innovative IT services to their
communities.
