Computer Revolution Sweeps Rural Karnataka

This article illustrates the interest of villagers who are going to great lengths to incorporate the use of computers into their lives. Through word of mouth, individuals from many small villages are finding ways to bring computers to their aid --- for education as well as daily life purposes.

The author presents a number of examples that demonstrate this trend. The Azim Premji Foundation (APF)-Karnataka government initiative provides community learning centres (CLCs) to primary schools --- with the prerequisite that there is an extra room set up specifically as a CLC. Residents in Naglapua learned from the village council that Rs. 25,000 was slated toward road building. They took this opportunity to build the roads themselves, for free, and to save the funds for the construction of an extra schoolroom to house the computers. The schoolroom was built and the group continues to pay for the electricity.

There is a strong belief that a computer-based education is the way of the future. K.R. Nagabhushana, a researcher studying this subject stated "our study in the 35 schools that have CLCs and 35 others which do not have CLCs have clearly shown the positive impact on overall academic performance of the children." As another example, "even coconut dealers, many hard pressed because of the pest-hit coconut crop, in some parts of Malnad region have contributed Rs.1,000 to Rs.1,500 for the building of CLCs..."

And the author points out, "the interesting aspect of the computer craze in rural parts is that children are shifting from non-CLC schools to CLC schools in significant numbers as the learn-it-yourself content in the CDs has enhanced pupil-teacher interaction."

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