ASHA: Beyond the `achaar-papad' syndrome

[vineeta yadav <vyadav@students.wisc.edu>]

Interesting article, I know Asha-Madison has been involved in trying to
evaluate the feasibility of similar computer training programs adn concepts.

Vineeta

______________________________

Beyond the `achaar-papad' syndrome 

              By Chandrika Mago

              The Times of India News Service

              NEW DELHI: Nine years ago, when family problems forced
              Chandni (name changed) to work and learn how to use the
              computer, she could hardly have known she would one day be
              teaching computer skills to women like her. Come September,
              Chandni will don the cap of head instructor for a World
              Bank-sponsored computer skills training programme for socially
              disadvantaged women.

              The Bank's Information for Development Programme has recently
              sanctioned Project SITA - Studies in information technology
              applications: Training in computer skills for low-income women.
              The objective: to move away from the ``achaar-papad'' areas of
              employment to high-tech areas, and to link technology to
societal
              concerns and make this linkage commercially viable. 

              Essentially, the programme will help needy women who are not
              necessarily highly-educated or proficient in English,
particularly
              divorcees or widows with young children, gain practical computer
              skills free of cost. And, if potential employers can be
identified at
              the same time, tailor the training to suit their requirement.
And,
              then, if it all works out, request the trainees to plough
back some of
              what they have learnt into training others.

              K V Sane, a chemistry professor who retired from Delhi
              University in 1995, is the brain behind the programme,
inspired by a
              five- year, experimental project which trained women from
              low-income sectors in desk-top publishing by processing
              educational manuscripts and getting these published as low-cost
              books and journals.

              From next month, Mr Sane, project director, will start
training the
              first batch of 20 women. ``The two-month training will be
free but
              we will request the trainees to return and assist in training
a second
              batch,'' he says. ``They will learn more and it will add a
personal
              touch.'' By mid-2000, they have to train 500 women.

              The key to this whole chain is identifying potential
employers. Mr
              Sane is hoping for help from social service organisations,
perhaps
              the Rotarians or women's groups. ``We don't want charity, just a
              chance so the trainees can compete on an equal
footing...acquiring
              skills, confidence and dignity.'' 

              He expects to absorb some - but not all - of the students in
his own
              programme. For, Project SITA trainers are also setting up a
              women's unit to continue processing educational manuscripts and
              arrange low-cost publication.







        
 

               
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