Amit Kataria, a computer institute chain owner, wants to train over two lakh villagers in computer skills in the next five years.
Quite a task, considering he has trained 6,000 people in the last five.
Amit Kataria, a computer institute chain owner, wants to train over two lakh villagers in computer skills in the next five years.
Quite a task, considering he has trained 6,000 people in the last five.
But not tougher than what it took the feisty Kataria to get basic education beyond Class 4.
His village Choma in Haryana only had a primary school and high school education meant travelling for several kilometres, which was costly due to his handicap (Kataria walks with crutches).
But by relocating with a relative to New Delhi, Kataria managed to scale through high school and graduation, during which he learnt computers. Back home in Choma, he was shocked to see his folks completely clueless about computers, which at the time had become a commonplace in cities.
Kataria says he realised that without knowledge of computers one could not get 80% of the jobs that are available. So he decided to put his knowledge of computers to use and train his village peers.
Kataria then pooled his meagre savings of `Rs23,000 and borrowed about a lakh from relatives to open a brick-and-mortar building to teach villagers computer basics, graphic designing, programming, Tally, etc. He took chairs from his home and borrowed computers from friends to create the basic infrastructure.
What began in the summer of 2007 with a neighbourhood boy of Class VIII as the first student has till date trained about 5,000-6,000 people from the age of 5 to 81.
Some 2,000 have managed to get jobs as accountants, data entry operators, typists, receptionists, store maintenance managers and in various BPO disciplines, says Kataria.
Some of those trained have been school dropouts, people who have failed repeatedly in academics, and those who have never been to schools.
Rose Computer Academy, as the venture is called, has an ambitious target of opening some 350 centres (from the current 4) by 2017 to train Kataria’s dream figure of two lakh.
From his home state of Haryana, he plans to expand in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in locations that have no connectivity with any computer coaching institute.
Charging a modest Rs30 per hour, Kataria has often had to take loans to propel his venture.
His strategy for expansion is three-pronged: open own centres, look for franchises and tie up with local schools.
“Today, computer awareness and interest is shooting up in Choma,” says Kataria, “with almost 80% households boasting of a computer.”
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