ICTpost Media Action
Dharwad (Karnataka): 29 April, 2019
Persons with disability not only face social exclusion, but also face obstacles while transitioning into the labour market and becoming economically self-sufficient. Knowledge of digital technologies can help them not just become economically independent but also socially connected.
PMGDISHA classes for "Deaf and dumb" Students. A unique initiative by CSC VLE shivakumar from Dharwad District Karnataka. pic.twitter.com/PMIGBUjPfE
— Vinod Kuriakose (@csc_south) November 28, 2018
In order to help the 25-odd students of Rise Trust for Disabled transcend these barriers, 31-year-old VLE Shivakumar made it his mission to provide digital literacy training to these students. After all, it was through his interest in digital technologies that Shivakumar got an opportunity to become an entrepreneur and earn his livelihood.
Hailing from Narendra village in Dharwad district of Karnataka, Shivakumar was not interested in pursuing a career as a mechanic after completing his diploma. As he was interested in computers, he enrolled for training in Basics, .Net, CAD, etc. One day, he heard about Common Services Centers scheme on TV. He gathered information on the scheme and applied for an ID. In March 2015, he started his CSC. He set about training students, ASHA and Anganwadi workers in digital literacy when the digital literacy mission was launched under Digital India programme.
Under the PMGDISHA scheme, which was launched for rural areas, the VLE collaborated with a NGO called Rise Trust for Disabled for training students with hearing and speech disability. Since January, VLE Shivakumar has been training students of the Trust through Mr. Robert, founder of the organization and a trainer in sign language.
The students are happy receiving digital skills and have been attending the classes regularly to learn how to operate a computer, how to send emails, how to communicate over social media, etc. Moreover, with their newly acquired skills, they have been doing data entry work for agencies through the Trust. With the scheme modules coming to an end in few days, VLE Shivakumar has decided to train these students under CSC Skill Programme for Persons with Disability as the next step so that they can enhance upon their computer skills. The VLE has also committed to donate the certification fee he receives from each of the students to the Trust. editor@ictpost.com
