IT activists move from computers to blackboards

Friday, 13 February 2004, 20:30 IST
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INDORE: Embroiled as they are in their world of cutting-edge technology and long stressful hours, IT professionals in this Madhya Pradesh town still find time to do their bit for a truly shining India. Employees at the Indore facility of Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) India Private Ltd. -- a wholly owned arm of the US-based technology giant - believe in engaging in social activities between and after work hours. Their "extra curricular" engagements include working with underprivileged children, old age homes and spreading literacy. One of CSC's most successful projects has been the adoption of three tribal villages on the outskirts of Indore district. CSC has invested in education and other basic needs like drinking water supply in these villages. Around 40 km from the Indore facility and 15 km from the nearest metalled road is a village called Sagar Paisa that CSC professionals heard about and then went about deciding what they could to help. "The village was in a terrible state when we began working with them four years ago," recalled C.P. Abraham, a CSC employee. "Most male villagers had a drinking problem and almost the entire village was illiterate." Comprising mostly landless labourers, Sagar Paisa has a population of about 700 people. Four years since, half the people in the village are literate and a regular water supply has been established. The villagers are unstinting in their praise and appreciation. "Through our visits to the city (Indore) and through our interactions with people from CSC we realised how important it was to educate our children and also learn with them," said Dongar Singh Solanki, 35, from the village. Solanki said most men have given up alcohol and even attend evening school. CSC volunteers visited the village every week to work out solutions for the people. A villager was trained to teach the children and a small school was constructed. "This is our way of returning something to society," said CSC assistant vice president Rajesh Therani. "Professionals here are increasingly joining up such social programmes. It's almost like an emotional necessity being fulfilled." According to Therani, the company allows its employees to take up to six-month sabbaticals for working on social projects during which the firm keeps the pay cheques flowing. Such breaks don't affect growth potentials either. While visiting the village, volunteers have developed lasting relationships and have started celebrating their birthdays and other anniversaries with the villagers. On one such visit to Sagar Paisa, a CSC team was stopped by people from the nearby village of Nayagaon, the second village to be adopted. Having learnt about work going on in the neighbourhood village, they too wanted a similar partnership with the company. Thus, Nayagaon also got a school and other necessary facilities to restart their school. The schools in both Sagar Paisa and Nayagaon are till Class 4 after which the children join neighbouring government schools. All the infrastructure work is undertaken in partnership with the villagers with both sides providing half the requirements. The land for building the schools is provided by the villagers who also help in paperwork. "Such partnerships inculcate an accountability amongst the villagers. Knowing their resources have been utilised, they feel responsible for the project," Therani told IANS. The company has recently begun work with a third village in the area called Lalgaon. Although most children in these villages are reluctant to speak to outsiders, there are some who don't shy away from strangers. Take 10-year-old Sunita Yadav of Nayagaon for instance. The first among three sisters to attend school, Sunita exudes confidence not seen in her male classmates. "I want to learn more so that I can help my family and see the outside world," she said. With CSC's women employees also frequenting the villages, the tribals have opened up to the need to educate the girl child. All girls in the three villages adopted by the company now attend school. And if they are too busy in the day looking after the house, or younger siblings or rearing cattle, they attend the evening school. "Interacting and working with the villagers is an enriching experience," said Sonali Kulkarni, a senior software engineer at CSC. "Apart from being our commitment and responsibility, such projects are a step in the right direction."
Source: IANS