According to the Human Development Report 2003, India is ranked 127th in the list of poor and underdeveloped countries. Although the country is extremely rich in human and natural resources, the quality of life that people lead is alarmingly poor. They are deprived of the basic necessities of life. Besides, there was also a visible dearth of sources for quality information as well as access to it. Even today when advancement in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has reached a new height, most people are still denied its benefits. As a result, equitable society, national development, awareness and social justices are mere theoretical concepts limited to a privileged few. TARAhaat took the challenge to reach the benefits of ICT to remote areas and for the last four years, it is relentlessly trying to create awareness and bring an upward change in the lives of the masses. This article focuses on some of TARAhaat’s key function areas: empowerment of women; development of youth; coordination with other development sectors; information dissemination and e-governance.
 

TARAhaat, trough its courses, activities and business plans, constantly endeavours to create a sense of self-esteem and self-respect among women. The stories of women whose lives have been changed by TARAhaat are numerous — from the Parmar sisters of Punavali in Madhya Pradesh to the twosome in Sangur TARAkendra, Punjab.

Walking up Punavali’s dusty road, it’s hard to imagine that there is a buzzing TARAkendra here. This is the village where the Parmar sisters are concentrating on their business while other girls of their age have marriage on their minds. One of TARAhaat’s early franchisees, they opened the Kendra adjacent to their home. Pinky and Rajmani, being familiar with computers, managed the centre from the start. They then inspired Priti to enrol for a basic computer course and she soon graduated to become an assistant instructor at the TARAkendra. The strong social hierarchy prevalent in the village initially proved a deterrent for most of the villagers. TARAhaat encouraged the sisters in their efforts to break the social barriers by visiting every home and inviting people to experience the world of the Internet. And after that initial struggle, there has been no looking back.

"The TARAkendra at Sangrur is unique primarily because it is operated only by women. In a town where women are hesitant to come out of their homes to work, this breaks a new ground," says Prakriti.

Prakriti and Sunita defy gender stereotypes and set an example in an area where women are yet to emerge from the shackles of convention. Prakriti, the Manager, is an MBA with teaching experience, while Sunita is the IT faculty member. Prakriti feels that all of TARAhaat’s services are relevant and affordable for people living in small towns and rural areas.

TARAhaat not only helps women think differently and independently, but also helps them realise their dreams. Priti Sharma is the TARAkendra Manager at Orchha. Priti’s association with TARAhaat began as a student of TARAhaat’s basic computer course. Her diligence and hard work brought her to the notice of the Kendra Manager, who urged her to apply for the post of instructor at the same Kendra. Pleasant and popular with her students, TARAhaat’s career development plan has seen Priti grow from an instructor to the coordinator of its e-governance services and now, the manager of the TARAkendra at Orchha.

For girls like Priti, who are dedicated, determined and committed, a single opportunity can make a huge difference not only in their own lives but also that of others around them. And, TARAhaat is the platform where they get the opportunity to make that difference.
 

TARAhaat has created a socio-economic revolution in under-privileged and under-developed areas. Children who once played gulli danda in the streets now prefer to zip across a computer screen. The young people who left no stones unturned for a suitable job now earn handsomely and help their family.

One of TARAhaat’s youngest members, Mohneet Kaur Brar is only eight years old. Her passion for computers persuaded her parents to enrol her in a basic computer course at the local TARAkendra. This young girl from Goniana Mandi in Punjab has completed the course with flying colours and would now like to study computers as a subject in the fourth standard. She is full of plans for studying the advanced computer applications course and says, "When I grow up I want to become a Police Officer like Kiran Bedi."

Vijay Mishra, the son of a tourist guide at Orchha, was eager to help his father financially with the marriages of his three sisters. An undergraduate student, Vijay joined a basic computer course at the local TARAkendra, and went on to also do the advanced diploma course. He soon found employment with a local computer firm while still completing the course and started helping his father financially too.

Sudama Patidar, a resident of the Babina sub-district of Jhansi, got into bad company before he joined the local TARAkendra. Sudama, worried with the drinking habits of his father, took admission into the Basic IT course. Struggling to continue his studies under severe financial constraints, Sudama approached the TARAkendra authorities. With the help of the TARAkendra, he got an attractive job with Hari Computers, one of the largest IT companies in the Jhansi region. However, Sudama is still continuing with his course in TARAkendra alongside his job. He is not only helping himself in his studies but also supporting his struggling family.

"I never imagined that doing a computer course would help me in so many ways. I can now think of studying further to build a career," says Vikas. Seventeen year-old Vikas Kumar who hails from Dashmesh Nagar, a small town in Punjab, made a decision that changed the course of his life. Son of the local grocer, Vikas used to help his father with the accounts. To improve his effectiveness, he decided to enrol for a course in Tally (an accounting package) at the nearby TARAkendra. He now works as an accountant for a rice merchant in a neighbouring village, which enables him to earn a good salary and supplement the family income.

TARAhaat, on the one hand, helps the youth of our society to become self-dependent through its courses. Whereas, on the other hand, it’s unique business model attracts the youth to become franchisees and ensure a comfortable living. Praveen Kumar Sukhija of Kothkapura became a franchisee of TARAhaat in March 23, 2004. Within three months, the number of students who have already joined various courses has reached a whopping 73. The queue of students waiting to take admission is even longer. This not only shows the success of TARAhaat’s unique franchise system but also the popularity of its courses among students.

TARAhaat, besides developing the individual’s skills, also helps the government and private sectors for dissemination of information, awareness generation and social development. The efforts of TARAhaat are not just changing the lives of individuals but that of an entire society. A case in point is Niwari. Banks and insurance companies like the Central Bank, State Bank of India (SBI) and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) in this backward block in Tikamgarh district in MP faced severe problems in sending data to their regional offices because of the state of communication services in the area. "The TARAkendra made the process faster and easier. We now send our data via e-mail using the Internet facilities available at the Kendra. Now it is just a mater of few minutes," states one contented bank manager.

TARAhaat has a content-rich website, available in three different languages—Hindi, English and Punjabi. The website has been designed to give the masses an access to the information that is otherwise not easily available, and that is also at one place. The TARAhaat website is one of the finest resources on the Internet on topics like health, education, livelihoods, law, governance, environment, etc. It also provides mail facilities in English and 11 Indian languages. The website is updated regularly, almost on a daily basis so that people get the latest information.

TARAhaat offers the state-of-art e-governance services that are currently being developed and tested in Bundelkhand, and expected to be launched in Punjab soon. Citizens can visit a TARAkendra and can apply online for government certificates, redress grievances, etc. With this service, most back and forth trips to government offices could be eliminated.

However, people were not very convinced initially about the service. A pertinent example is Usha Devi of Niwari town in Madhya Pradesh. From being an initial sceptic, Usha Devi is now one of the leading champions of TARAhaat’s e-governance service. "Initially, I did not believe that TARhaat could help anyone get the documents they need from the government. But after the TARAkendra helped me get my certificate, I am always telling the members of my self-help group and other women how useful it is," she says.

Villagers need all kinds of government certificates: birth, marriage, death, caste, residence … not to mention various licences. Countless others like Usha Devi, who had tried repeatedly but failed to acquire one certificate or another from the local government office, are now switching over to TARAhaat’s service. In most cases, TARAhaat ensures that the document needed is obtained within a short time, saving the villager considerable expense and time and also eliminating the need for numerous trips to the District Headquarters. This is the beginning of a silent revolution in this district that is bringing the benefits of technology directly to the rural populace, especially women.

The e-governance programme helped the marginalised people realise their dreams. Ganpat Kumhaar, a potter from Niwari, had a desire. He wanted to increase his productivity by acquiring an electric potter’s wheel. But he did not possess the caste and domicile certificates needed to get a bank loan. With the help of TARAhaat’s e-governance services, Ganpat soon had the necessary certificates. He was spared the trouble of travelling repeatedly to the government office in the district town. His loan was granted and his dream became a reality. "Without this service, my wheel would have remained a dream," says Ganpat.

In recognition of its efforts to bridge the digital divide, as well as for creating sustainable livelihoods, TARAhaat received the Stockholm Challenge Award in September 2001. The Stolkholm Challenge Award is considered to be the most prestigious among the IT awards focused on innovation in the field of digital solutions. TARAhaat has also been selected for the Samsung’s DigitAll Hope Incubator Project. Under this project, a revolving fund has been created that promotes young, talented entrepreneurs to establish their own TARAkendras.