The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Taking computers to dockhands

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Saturday, Jul 26, 2008
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Kerala - Kochi

Taking computers to dockhands

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Of late Vinu, a 26-year-old worker at Munambam harbour has been talking more about mouse than fish!

Reason: A 10-day computer training programme he had undergone at an Akshaya centre that started operating inside the harbour.

For the 100-odd fishing workers at the harbour who had never even touched a computer, the Akshaya centre offered a whole new world.

“Initially I was reluctant. But, slowly I was attracted by the games that were used to introduce us to the computer. Then it became difficult to find space as the place started to get crowded,” Vinu, a tenth-class pass out, said. And before he knew the 10 days of training was over leaving him yearning for more.

The advantage of opening the centre inside the harbour was that these workers could drop in as and when their work permitted, P.R. Saljith, the entrepreneur of the centre, said. “With their odd working hours it would not have been possible for them to enrol in an institution outside,” he said. The centre remains open from 7 a.m. till 5 p.m.

When Mr. Saljith made a proposal for training the harbour workers, the District Collector, who is also the district chief coordinator of Akshaya Project, wrote to the Harbour Engineer. Following this, the Harbour Management Society Hall was allotted for the purpose.

It was a fulfilling experience for Saljith, as his bonding with ‘students’ grew stronger. And for the likes of Vinu Saljith became Saljith chettan (brother).

“Their excitement was contagious,” he said. Those who have completed the training now want to pursue computer studies, Saljith said.

With e-literacy, the first phase of Akshaya, Saljith plans to complete the computer training inside the harbour this week and to move out. The idea is to find a more spacious room in the immediate vicinity of the harbour and to impart e-vidya, a certificate course, offered in the second phase of Akshaya.

For e-vidya

Already he is bombarded with requests to give more computer lessons. “I want to do a good computer course. Saljith chettan has agreed to enrol me for the e-vidya course,” an enthusiastic Vinu said.

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