The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is often called a ‘rich man’s disease’ as the safety protocols call for a lot of private space and insulation, often unachievable for the indigent. Also, the lives of those who are not digitally plugged in seem to be affected most since all other avenues of physical work came to a nought.
In the education arena too, students who had access to computers and broadband internet could access classes and resources while the others were left behind. To bridge this digital divide, the Group of Technology Companies (GTech), a collective of IT companies in Kerala, came up with the idea of donating used laptops to students.
The project, titled ‘Chirakukal,’ got to a flying start with the group getting first set of 50 laptops from consultancy major Ernst and Young (EY).
Deepu S Nath, GTech executive member and managing director of IT firm Faya, said in the first phase 19 laptops were handed over to select students - 5 to of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Pallippuram, Thiruvananthapuram, 10 to college students from the Chirayinkeezhu Block, 3 to the children of the housekeeping staff at Technopark, and 1 to an NGO.
Adhering to COVID-19 protocol, parents of the students were invited to take delivery of the laptops. “We have a selection process to identify deserving students. The names are collected with the support of schools or local body representatives. The most deserving students will be identified, keeping in mind their class/grade and whether online learning had started for them. We also see if the students can afford an internet connection. We will take steps to sponsor that too if a family is unable to afford it,” Deepu said.
Buddy support
Volunteers under Natana, a cultural wing of Technopark employees, offer a buddy support system to familiarize students with laptops and internet if need be. Natana member Sharath Krishna said each student would be handed over the contact number of a volunteer, whom they can reach out for any support. “We will follow up with the students after three months to check whether they are utilizing it for their learning purpose. We will give feedback to the donor company after six months. The students are told to hand in the gadgets once they stop using it to prevent any kind of misuse,” he said.
State government-backed hardware manufacturer Coconics too is part of ‘Chirakukal.’
The Coconics team conducts a series of quality tests on the laptops for its reuse. “If there are minor repairs, we would correct it. Testing of around 27 used laptops has been completed and another 22 are in the process. This is being done free of cost as per our CSR activity. In addition, we are offering laptops at a rate less than Rs 15,000 which people could buy and donate for needy students,” said a Coconics representative.
Deepu said apart from EY, UST Global has offered around 12 laptops. “Besides this, some have agreed to donate new laptops for students,” he said.
Though the IT sector in Kerala has a huge potential to address the digital divide in online education, some companies have apprehensions over issues of e-waste and reuse of old gadgets.
“The companies are managing e-waste as per norms. Also, there are concerns over giving used ones. That is why the requisite quality checks are done before handing over,” said Deepu.
IT professionals believe students should start using gadgets like laptops independently at least from Class IX.
“Now all sectors are based on IT. So it is important for students to shed their fears and learn to use a laptop. In the case of underprivileged students, even their parents won’t be in a position to guide them. That is why we introduced this buddy system where these students can contact Natana volunteers for any support,” he said.
GTech is also thinking of helping differently-abled children who need specific software. As part of the data collected for the government's White Board initiative (for special children), there are around 82,802 students in elementary classes and 41,171 in the secondary level who need special devices to overcome their disability.
Around 6,084 such students are unable to travel to schools due to their health condition. The White Board initiative was conceived to address all such issues with the support of technology. “The IT department has asked us whether it is possible for us to donate sector-specific gadgets. For example, the blind- and low-vision category students alone are 997 and 40,980 respectively. We are currently in discussion over supporting this initiative,” said Deepu.
(Jisha Surya is an independent journalist based in Thiruvananthapuram)
