Tsunami Rehabilitation – Livelihood Reconstruction - ‘IT on Wheels’Inauguration of IT Van

The onslaught of Tsunami on young and school-going children was most appalling.  Many had lost their certificates and a good number of them had just dropped out of their formal education due to family disruption arising out of tsunami.
When surveying the Parangipettai and Killai region of Cuddalore District in Tamilnadu, AID had found out that there were many worried youngsters just brooding over their unclear future after completing their college/school studies.  The number was quite high. Though most of their parents are fishers, they did not want to continue the hard life of struggling for their life and livelihood with unsafe sea.

Further, the entire focus of relief and rehabilitation were around families who lost their family members. There was very little focus on the young people who suffered from the loss of life and livelihoods of family members.

With this backdrop, much thought was focused on youth specific recovery and rehabilitation. After assessing the practical need for alternative means of livelihood rehabilitation with the young people, the idea of “Information Technology on wheels” was conceived.  This idea was built up from the computer education, AID provided in Samiyarpettai and C. Pudupettai in Parangipettai Block. AID found that though many young Dalit people around the Killai region were interested, they were not able to make use of the computer training centres due to logistical and economic reasons and lack of transport facilities. Further, many young Dalit girls were reluctant to come to computer training for want of transport facilities.
The project was through, with this practical experience. AID also identified job potentials from the industries around the Industrial Complex in Cuddalore.

To give concrete shape to the idea, AID purchased a van first. After that, it modified the interiors. Computers, tables and other infrastructure required for training were shaped inside the van. It took more than two months for the body builders to create the ‘IT on wheels’.

As per the plan, the IT van would go to each village at a stipulated time and an instructor would teach the children job-oriented computer courses.  The novel feature is that children/young people need not travel long distance to get the IT education.  Rather, the ‘IT on Wheels’ is going to their respective places according to their convenience to provide training to them. This project was primarily conceived to benefit the children and youth of Killai area. 

The IT Van was inaugurated and dedicated to the children and young people of Killai region on 11^th December 2005. The Sub-Collector had cut the ribbon and inaugurated the IT Van.  While inaugurating, he worked on the computer for a few minutes and learnt the uniqueness of the ‘IT on Wheels’ project. 
AID, IT Coordinator had explained to him the scope and details of the project, course curriculum, methodology of conducting classes and the utility.  The Collector had also asked about the project cost and welcomed the project to his Taluka (sub-district).  He had also suggested that Internet and browsing could also be taught to the rural poor in a phased manner.