Microsoft launches ambitious rural training prog

Pune, Nov 7: Around 1200 youth from 350 villages of Maharashtra would soon be able to find themselves a job in IT related fields without leaving their villages and in the process make 60,000 villagers computer literate, following an ambitious rural training programme launched by software giant Microsoft.

Mr Pradeep Lokhande, Consultant, Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals(ISAP), Delhi, that is implementing the project, informed reporters here today that the ongoing Unlimited Potential Programme(UPP) an initiative of Microsoft's Community Affairs Division has been launched with an objective to empower the underprivileged population in rural segments to apply technical skills in their areas of activity. This will help them to exploit their potential to the fullest and enhance their productivity and income generation capacity, thereby bridging the digital divide between the urban and rural segments, he said.

The programme intends to impart training in IT skills and ensure capacity building and empowerment of target beneficiaries, comprising rural unemployed youth, women groups, small and marginal farmers and traditional artisans. The programme in its two-year duration, targets to set up 350 such centers in the various districts of Maharashtra and provide training to more than 60,000 rural people. The community centers/panchayat ghars at village levels are identified as training centers i.e.

Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLCs), he explained.

Lokhande informed that some CTLCs have already been established in different districts like Parbhani, Aurangabad, Pune, Jalna, Sangli, Beed, Hingoli, Latur, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar. ISAP is in the process of setting up new centers in other districts through out Maharashtra.

This social initiative of rural computing programme, is being implemented with used computer hardware and peripherals donated by individuals and business houses. ICICI and Motorola have already donated more than 40 workable PCs that have been sent to various CTLCs. The project, however, needs more machines and an appeal is being made to generous donors to donate used computers for this programme.

The proposed programme will go a long way in spreading computer literacy and bring the rural youth on par with his urban counterpart, Lokhande added.

UNI