By Capt. Indraani Singh | CEO & Managing Trustee
Literacy India covers that under its Project Karigari covers Grassroot to Future skills. Initially, it was established to provide a platform for vocational training especially for those students who lacked interest in academics or were dropouts from school. Under Karigiri, we also organise training programs especially keeping an eye on providing employable skills to youth. In order to bring in greater social inclusivity and economic empowerment, the Karigari program also emphasises to ensure that underprivileged women and youth from rural and semi-urban areas gain access to skill training.
On the basis of targeted employability enhancement objective, the project is classified into two distinct skill development segments – Grassroot Skill Development and Future Skill Development. Literacy India has been advocating technology-aided education and enhancing digital skills for over two decades. In sync with the fourth revolution and the futuristic metaverse, Literacy India has pioneered the delivery of IT-related ‘future skills’ training courses.
In a fast-changing socio-economic scenario, the nature of jobs is witnessing a shift, and so is the desired education and skill; evident from the change in school curricula as directed under the latest Education Policy by the Government of India – NEP-2020.
Why The Need for Digital Skill Development
According to estimates, the global digital transformation market size will grow at 15.6% from 2022-2030. With increased penetration of internet of things ‘IoT’ during the pandemic is driving the digital transformation market. As a result, the rate of adoption of automation driven by big data, information technology and digital connectivity by industries have heightened. The job requirements – understandably – would focus on digital and technical enhanced expertise rendering the existing skill requirement obsolete. Soft skills such as teamwork and communication, emotional intelligence and mentorship will gain special importance. By the prediction of World Economic Forum, more than 1 billion people would need to be reskilled by 2030 driven by the Fourth Revolution.
Background of the Community and Social Situation
Neturia sub-division of Purulia district in West Bengal, India. It is situated 14.2km away from sub-district headquarter Neturia (tehsildar office) and 64.6km away from district headquarter Purulia. Most of the basic amenities like primary and primary health centre is available with some 5 Secondary/ Senior Secondary schools having more than 3000+ children attending these schools. However, the quality, adequacy and efficiency of the available facilities is far from desirable. Presently, with the advent of computer based learning, more particularly post COVID, the schools have yet to upgrade themselves with, adequate internet facilities, teaching aids and competent teachers for computers and similar learning labs. Agriculture is still the main skill and livelihood option.The benefits of modernisation and economic development have yet to reach these areas as not much Industrial development has taken place in and around Neturia Raghunathpur ,West Bengal
Livelihood & Skill training
Young generation is more attracted towards mobile, Laptop and computer technology these days. If banks and finance institutions provide loan and other financial support to the villagers, this village will see the real development
Hence the skilling programme under project Karigari will help curate scalable skills among the youth and support generate local sustainable livelihood support on one hand, and provide employment opportunities in the periphery towns and city. In these challenging post Covid times the case study of young Soumen’s achievement in being able to start his own entrepreneurial digital services set-up is a satisfying example.
Activities undertaken under Karigari- Digital Training
Some of the Highlights of our past achievements under the Karigari Project
Under the Karigari project, Literacy India has offered its beneficiaries Computer literacy and training to help build careers in IT related fields like BPO Centres, Data Processing Units, UID centres and opening CSC centres etc. especially in the cities like Delhi, Gurgaon. Some of our beneficiaries have been successfully supported through micro-loan facilities to help open their small service centres in the rural areas of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and promoting new-age entrepreneurs.
Under the Future Skills Training programme, a number of beneficiaries have been successfully trained to become executives, especially in the fields such as Digital Marketing, Web Development, Coding using Scratch and Python.
Stories of Change
Soumen ( Name Changed) Purulia (From Raghunathpur Centre)
Since childhood Soumen ( Name Changed) was good in studies and had high aspirations but was occasionally ridden with financial crisis. His father, a tailor, has a small business that too has been burdened with financial woes. Surmounting all obstacles Soumen completed his higher secondary education and Diploma in Civil Engineering. His qualifications opened the gates to work in a private company that supported his family and a marriageable sister. However, the dark days of COVID, that played a spoil sport to many a promising career of budding technocrats, seized the job of Soumen too.
The economic and social stress that came along losing a job dampened his spirits and he was gripped with high blood pressure. During this period, per chance, he approached the Literacy India training centre for guidance. The Centre Coordinator discussed about the need and importance of learning digital/computer skills, and encouraged him to join the CCA programme.
Soumen( Name Changed) always had that spark in him, he displayed a determination to rise again with a “fight back” attitude. He was attentive throughout the course and completed it with a grade “A”. Still, he was not clear and confident about his future. He needed money to support his family.
During his CCA training, in one the Entrepreneurial-Skills sessions, he recalled that he had shared the idea of opening a Cyber-Café, and he thought it could be a good business idea. He approached Literacy India and applied for a micro-loan to buy equipment and other things for his cyber-café. He managed to buy a second-hand laptop, a printer and a lamination machine.
Focussed and determined to succeed, today he has a successful business. He is satisfied and providing several computer-enabled, internet-based services to locals including filling and filing of Forms, handling Pan Card applications, Aadhaar Card related work, Income Tax Returns and Insurance related work, Colour Printing and photocopy services. Recently, Soumen informed us that he has enrolled himself for a Community Service Centre license to provide various Government, banking and other services. Kudos, Soumen ( Name Changed)
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