Karnataka - Bangalore

Bit by byte, the future is being shaped

Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

WIRED: Children being taught basic computer skills at the Ambedkar Commmunity Computer Centre. Low voltage is often a problem but the enthusiasm tots up to a million watts —

BANGALORE: A stone’s throw from towering glass structures on the Banerghatta Road is a bustling slum; a contrast you may say. And somewhere down its winding overcrowded gullies is a community initiative that promises to bridge the ubiquitous urban divide.

Saraswathy, fondly known as Sarasu, and Mani, spend the better part of their evenings in a small damp room with 15 children, three old computers and one laptop. Neither Sarasu nor Mani looks old enough to teach. While Mani (who is physically challenged) studies in ninth standard, Sarasu awaits admission into a commerce college. Trained by four software engineers — Senthil S., Pulkith Parekh, Balaji and Aravind R. — who helped set up this mini school in a slum in Sudarshan Layout at the Ambedkar Youth Centre, these little teachers are quite popular in the area.

Helped by Geetha Menon of the Sthree Jagruthi Samithi, these volunteers from the Association for India’s Development have made it their mission to help bridge the digital divide. Ask any of the children what they want to be, pat comes the reply: “Software.”

The group has gathered to decide how they will conduct a formal inauguration ceremony next week. Though students have been taking free classes for the past four months, Mani feels that it needs to reach out better. Haridas, a painter at the Ambedkar Youth Centre, agrees: “I wish young people in particular would see these little children learn and come forward”

Senthil and Balaji visit twice a month to impart basic computer skills to the teachers. The students proudly display a slideshow they have created to explain their work. While the teachers’ teachers beam with pride and are baffled at some of the special effects the children have used, the children blush every time a spelling mistake is pointed out.

Sarasu’s voice quivers with veneration as she speaks about her teachers. She is not sure if she wants to work in a “big software company” but is sure about being involved in community work. “I do wish more college-going students and even elders would come learn and get jobs,” she says.

“At school many of us have to share one computer and classes are once a week. Here I can sit for as long as I want,” says little Mohan. “The attendance register shows that I am regular.”

This slum is one of the more “elite” ones, as Senthil puts it. Yet, frequent power cuts stand in the way of regular classes and low voltage ends up damaging equipment. Haridas points out that they were fortunate to get this space. “In most slums there is no community space, and most of it is misused for political activities or given out on rent,” says Haridas.

Fifteen-year-old Santhosh says that slowly people are getting to know about the programme. The idea is to teach the students so that they can go ahead and teach others, just like Sarasu and Mani. And where does the money come from? “Well, the computers are either old and thrown away or donated. And as for the miscellaneous charges, we put in a little and the slum dwellers contribute,” says Armugam.

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