HISTORY OF KNOWLEDGE CENTER
I am Shitalkumar Shankarrao Joshi, from Sanskriti Samvardhan Mandal, Sharadanagar, Sagroli,Dist. Nanded
.Iam co-ordinator of Maharshi Kanad Knowledge Center.
Rural knowledge centre was set up at Sagroli in September 2006. I had started a computer training centre in a small Tin shade in the back yard of my house in 2005. With only two computers.
Initially I had to struggle a lot to make rural people aware of the importance of computer. There were hardly two or three people who could articulate the word computer ( Sanganak in Marathi ) But I was determined to bring about computer revolution in my village, I knew well that the professional life of rural people would not get a momentum unless computer was used in practical life in 2005 availed a bank loan of Rs. 50,000 and started a computer training centre for children with two computers. I faced a number of technical problems at first. There was no computer expert who could be consulted in case of a problem. I had to carry the CPU all the way to Nanded which is 85 K.M. from here, or to Hyderbad 230 Kms. From Sagroli. A very irregular electricity supply would make the matter worse.
However, the situation has changed for the better now. I can now handle the technic
al problems and repair the computers myself. I learnt this through my own experience of over 4 years. In march 2005, I had only two computers enrolled at the centre. I used to get a lot of time every day after the two trainers had left. I would then sit alone, waiting for new enrolments. But nobody would turn up. However I utilized my free time learning computer with the help of books and mannuals. I read a lot about BPO’s about the affairs of software companies, use of computers in education, sitting in the small tin shade, and having big dreams.
Disappo
intment, however, started creeping in my mind as there were no new enrolments. I started cursing myself for starting a computer centre at a place where most students cherished the dream of going for D.Ed. after passing the H.S.C. exam., get a teacher’s job and , live happily thereafter. They were least interested in computers. I would try hard to convince them that computer education change their life. I would relate my own story. I got computer education travelling 12 K.M. every day to Biloli. I still remember those days when I would go on a bicycle with two of my friends by a narrow path through the fields. It would take three hours to reach Biloli during the rainy season. We had to carry our bicycles on our hands at of water many places as it would be difficult to peddle the bicycle due to deep water or mud. And as we reached Biloli, the power supply would be gone. After waiting for resumption of power supply for hours, it would resume and we would get hardly an hour to learn our lessons. Thus a whole day would be spent an hour’s computer education. I would tell them that they were fortunate enough to have computer education at their door step and they had an easy access to computer as and when they wanted. I succeeded in getting a few enrolments this way.
And one day, SSM received NASSCOM’S letter informing about its intention to set up a Village Knowledge Centre at Sagroli for which two eligible candidates from the village were to be sent for undergoing training in Mumbai. It was then that Shri. S.S. Sagrolikar a friend of my father’s, recommended my name to Shri. Pramod Deshmukh, Project Director of SSM. Eventually, I was sent to Mumbai along with Manik Bhandare to undergo the training in computer. The training proved to be a turning point in my life. It downed upon me that all my dreams could now be realized. The training programme boosted my confidence and gave momentum to my work.
A Village Knowledge centre was set up at Sagroli in September 2006. NASSCOM tied up with SSM to support the knowledge centre technically. I was selected co-ordinator of the centre and MKVKC was inaugurated at the auspicious hands of Shri. Rajesh Pandit the then Deputy Collector, Degloor division. The intention behind inviting the
Deputy collector was to publicize the VKC at the official level.. It would also felicitate smooth running of the centre. As the centre was located in the market place , it attracted the people’s intention earlier, I would pursue people to join the centre. Now people started inquiring about the centre. The centre has been doing very well since then. The work expanded during 2006-2008, so much so that a trained assistant has now been appointed gradually new courses were introduced, now activities were undertaken. A systematic transfer of information and technology had a great impact. The enrolment is now 200.
There are at present 4 batches of 50 students each. A separate time slot has been reserved for agri based programs, The shortage of computer systems was made up by SSM which provided 10 computers to the centre.
Presently the cen
tre has a well equipped computer lab. With 20 computers in place. Broad band internet facility, a printer and an LCD projector are the other features of the centre. Interestingly, all these facilities have been provided out of the centre’s income. The dream I had envisioned in 2005 has now been realized. I had got a golden opportunity and I took it.
As my experience in the field grew, a question started haunting the , what can I do for the jobless students completing computer education at the centre? I got answer to the question through internet searching where I can across Zenith’s and offering job work knowledge at computer. I registered with Zenith Info Media and started work. I got some of my students. Involved in the Job work by giving them the job of typing. Thus they started getting returns for what they had achieved. This encouraged other unemployed youth to enroll themselves for various courses. This was my first step though a small one in the field of BPO.
However, following the recent economic crisis the BPO job got a set back and Zenith stopped outsourcing. But, I am going on with my work, unmoved by the crisis. After finding my way against all the odds I have now learnt to take such situations in my stride knowing well that this is a part of the game, I have definite targets planned to be achieved by 2012.
The VKC has had a tremendous visible and measurable impact in 2005, there were hardly 2 to 3 villagers who knew what computer means. Now, In 2009 there are 700 people who are computer literate and hundreds of others who are well work of the importance of computer education in and around Sagroli, thanks to the Knowledge they got at M.K.V.K.C.
So far 10 families have their own computers with the motivation and guidance of the VKC. The centre has not only educated students but also trained a number of teachers who are now using power point presentation as a teaching tool. This is undoubtedly a significant achievement of the VKC.
I am confident that the centre will definitely achieve its objectives set to be achieved by the end of 2012.
I am Shitalkumar Shankarrao Joshi, from Sanskriti Samvardhan Mandal, Sharadanagar, Sagroli,Dist. Nanded
.Iam co-ordinator of Maharshi Kanad Knowledge Center.Rural knowledge centre was set up at Sagroli in September 2006. I had started a computer training centre in a small Tin shade in the back yard of my house in 2005. With only two computers.
Initially I had to struggle a lot to make rural people aware of the importance of computer. There were hardly two or three people who could articulate the word computer ( Sanganak in Marathi ) But I was determined to bring about computer revolution in my village, I knew well that the professional life of rural people would not get a momentum unless computer was used in practical life in 2005 availed a bank loan of Rs. 50,000 and started a computer training centre for children with two computers. I faced a number of technical problems at first. There was no computer expert who could be consulted in case of a problem. I had to carry the CPU all the way to Nanded which is 85 K.M. from here, or to Hyderbad 230 Kms. From Sagroli. A very irregular electricity supply would make the matter worse.
However, the situation has changed for the better now. I can now handle the technic
al problems and repair the computers myself. I learnt this through my own experience of over 4 years. In march 2005, I had only two computers enrolled at the centre. I used to get a lot of time every day after the two trainers had left. I would then sit alone, waiting for new enrolments. But nobody would turn up. However I utilized my free time learning computer with the help of books and mannuals. I read a lot about BPO’s about the affairs of software companies, use of computers in education, sitting in the small tin shade, and having big dreams.Disappo
intment, however, started creeping in my mind as there were no new enrolments. I started cursing myself for starting a computer centre at a place where most students cherished the dream of going for D.Ed. after passing the H.S.C. exam., get a teacher’s job and , live happily thereafter. They were least interested in computers. I would try hard to convince them that computer education change their life. I would relate my own story. I got computer education travelling 12 K.M. every day to Biloli. I still remember those days when I would go on a bicycle with two of my friends by a narrow path through the fields. It would take three hours to reach Biloli during the rainy season. We had to carry our bicycles on our hands at of water many places as it would be difficult to peddle the bicycle due to deep water or mud. And as we reached Biloli, the power supply would be gone. After waiting for resumption of power supply for hours, it would resume and we would get hardly an hour to learn our lessons. Thus a whole day would be spent an hour’s computer education. I would tell them that they were fortunate enough to have computer education at their door step and they had an easy access to computer as and when they wanted. I succeeded in getting a few enrolments this way.And one day, SSM received NASSCOM’S letter informing about its intention to set up a Village Knowledge Centre at Sagroli for which two eligible candidates from the village were to be sent for undergoing training in Mumbai. It was then that Shri. S.S. Sagrolikar a friend of my father’s, recommended my name to Shri. Pramod Deshmukh, Project Director of SSM. Eventually, I was sent to Mumbai along with Manik Bhandare to undergo the training in computer. The training proved to be a turning point in my life. It downed upon me that all my dreams could now be realized. The training programme boosted my confidence and gave momentum to my work.
A Village Knowledge centre was set up at Sagroli in September 2006. NASSCOM tied up with SSM to support the knowledge centre technically. I was selected co-ordinator of the centre and MKVKC was inaugurated at the auspicious hands of Shri. Rajesh Pandit the then Deputy Collector, Degloor division. The intention behind inviting the
Deputy collector was to publicize the VKC at the official level.. It would also felicitate smooth running of the centre. As the centre was located in the market place , it attracted the people’s intention earlier, I would pursue people to join the centre. Now people started inquiring about the centre. The centre has been doing very well since then. The work expanded during 2006-2008, so much so that a trained assistant has now been appointed gradually new courses were introduced, now activities were undertaken. A systematic transfer of information and technology had a great impact. The enrolment is now 200.There are at present 4 batches of 50 students each. A separate time slot has been reserved for agri based programs, The shortage of computer systems was made up by SSM which provided 10 computers to the centre.
Presently the cen
tre has a well equipped computer lab. With 20 computers in place. Broad band internet facility, a printer and an LCD projector are the other features of the centre. Interestingly, all these facilities have been provided out of the centre’s income. The dream I had envisioned in 2005 has now been realized. I had got a golden opportunity and I took it.As my experience in the field grew, a question started haunting the , what can I do for the jobless students completing computer education at the centre? I got answer to the question through internet searching where I can across Zenith’s and offering job work knowledge at computer. I registered with Zenith Info Media and started work. I got some of my students. Involved in the Job work by giving them the job of typing. Thus they started getting returns for what they had achieved. This encouraged other unemployed youth to enroll themselves for various courses. This was my first step though a small one in the field of BPO.
However, following the recent economic crisis the BPO job got a set back and Zenith stopped outsourcing. But, I am going on with my work, unmoved by the crisis. After finding my way against all the odds I have now learnt to take such situations in my stride knowing well that this is a part of the game, I have definite targets planned to be achieved by 2012.
The VKC has had a tremendous visible and measurable impact in 2005, there were hardly 2 to 3 villagers who knew what computer means. Now, In 2009 there are 700 people who are computer literate and hundreds of others who are well work of the importance of computer education in and around Sagroli, thanks to the Knowledge they got at M.K.V.K.C.
So far 10 families have their own computers with the motivation and guidance of the VKC. The centre has not only educated students but also trained a number of teachers who are now using power point presentation as a teaching tool. This is undoubtedly a significant achievement of the VKC.
I am confident that the centre will definitely achieve its objectives set to be achieved by the end of 2012.
Comments
happy to have empowered and visionary person like you in NF's family.All the best for future endeavor