IT initative to expand digital literacy in western India
In a move to fulfill the manpower needs of a thriving software industry in the state, a public limited company plans to set up 1,000 IT Gyan Kendras in western India. These e-learning centres will train youth in basic computer skills and improve their employment prospects.
Rajasthan, poised for rapid growth in the IT sector, is facing acute shortage of IT professionals. Hence, the state government recently set up an institutional mechanism through Rajasthan Knowledge Corporation Limited (RKCL) - a public limited company.
The project aims to develop trained manpower with basic IT skills and aims to revolutionise the computer literacy scenario in the state.
M L Mehta, Chairman of the RKCL, said that it is expected to make at least one lakh people computer literate by 2009, through establishment of 1,000 IT Gyan Kendras in all the districts of the state. Ten computer-based industries have been selected as Programme Support Agencies (PSAs) to spread the digital literacy.
“People of the state are set to reap benefits of this innovative initiative,” he said. The programme hopes to considerably improve the employability of the youth in the state.
Today, youth have realised that it pays to have multiple qualifications. Looking at this need, RKCL has introduced a course called Rajasthan State Certificate in Information Technology (RS-CIT). Under the three-month programme approved by the Department Information and Technology and Communication, Government of Rajasthan, learners will be taught basic computing skills, word processing, computation and tabulation, database management, personal information management, use of graphics and presentation and internet web browsing.
Mehta informed that Vardhman Open University, Kota will conduct an examination at the end of the training programme.
Shivankar, Managing Director, RKCL and an IT expert from Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation, Mumbai claimed that this unique cost-effective project comprising class work of two hours a day is also expected to bridge the digital divide in the state. The course will be taught in English and Hindi and there is no age bar or any minimum educational qualifications needed to enroll for the course.
Shivankar said that a similar course is being successfully offered in Maharastra since 2001 and a couple of other Indian states are also running such programmes. The course fee of Rs 2300 can be paid in two to three installments.
The RKCL plans to have at least 500 Gyan Kendras functional by January 12, 2009 and by December 2009, the number is expected to be over 1000.
C.K. Mathew, Principal Secretary, Government of Rajasthan described that this perfect combination model to help people of the state become computer literate, would be a successful venture.
Mehta said that that Corporation is in the process to spread this message at the village level in various districts.
Deliberating on the other potential ventures of the Corporation,
He informed that they also plan to establish the digital university concept in the state. This would offer a fully web-based student facilitation framework to the universities and their affiliated colleges and recognised institutions in the form of Digital University in partnership with Maharastra Knowledge Corporation Ltd (MKCL).
The digital university concept has already been implemented at the Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur. The concept was also presented to the Governor who directed all the vice-chancellors to consider implementing the same in their universities within the state.
Further, the Company also proposes to provide centralised on-line admission facility to all stakeholders including students and institutions.
The Rajasthan Knowledge Corporation is a multi-stakeholder public limited company comprising the Rajasthan government, Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation, University of Rajasthan, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Vardhman Open University and Centre for e-Governance, Jaipur.
