Here, shared laptops open windows of opportunity

NEW DELHI: In the congested lanes of Joshi Colony in east Delhi's Mandawali, boys and girls come together daily to learn computers at a centre run by a voluntary organisation. Its courses-ranging from basic to advanced levels-have been on for many years but what is new is a laptop library.
In an innovative attempt at promoting inclusion, the students enrolled in the advanced programme at the Ujjwal Bhawaishya Centre run by Amba Foundation now get to take a laptop home for a month to not just practise but also explore the world of computers and internet at their own pace.Ten laptops are circulated across the batch of around 20 students, coming mostly from poor or low-income households in the unauthorised colonies and slums in the vicinity.
In effect for almost eight months now, the library is gaining popularity among the students. Parth Sahoo, who has completed the six-month course, told TOI that the facility had not only helped him practise the computer lessons but also complete his BCom assignments. Sahoo, son of a plumber, aspires to be a chartered accountant.
Jyoti Sarwal, founder of Amba Foundation, told TOI that the idea of lending a laptop on the lines of a book library was conceived to encourage students to adopt and understand technology better through a continuous process of learning. "The laptops are given to the advanced-level students to develope a sense of pride that the centre trusts them with expensive equipment," Sarwal said. "We regularly monitor their usage. Each student is asked to get the laptop after two weeks so that we can review how he is using the machine," said a teacher at the centre.
The benefits are showing in the performance of these students, said the teacher. Some students even get a temporary data connection to use the internet. The programme also covers the staff of the centre, said Sarwal.
The programme even lets the families of these students experience the technology as most of these parents, otherwise, have no access to computers. The students' siblings too keenly watch them using the laptop.
Shaheen Khan, who is aspiring to complete her Class XII through open school, said the facility had helped her master softwares like PowerPoint and Excel. "I have now asked my father to get me a computer at home," Khan said. Zahir Khan, an auto driver, is happy with his daughter learning these skills. "I will try my best to ensure that my children get to study more," he said.
Encouraged by the response of the students and their families, the NGO is now hoping to cover more children.