Mission

The remote settlement of Ravangla in Sikkim, India, will set up a permanent business cum esucation training program in Information Technology (IT) in the settlement. As the settlement lacks many realistic options for development and livelihood, and the number of unemployed youth is increasing. IT education would be a viable option of creating a knowledge-based economy. This IT education cum business is coinciding at a period when there is an IT revolution taking place in India. This project in one way to enthusistically participate in the on-going revolution to reap its benefit together. IT Education will not only empower and increase the capacity of the local people, it will also have the ripple effect of reducing the digital divide between wired elite Tibetan living in the cities and the uwired Tibetan masses in the remote areas.

Objective

• Totrain the people of Ravangla to become computer literate, and provide Information Technology (IT) and language skills to the youth.

• To enable and empower the youth to become productive persons in the society and thereby play positive and contributing roles.

• To create a knowledge-based economy in this particular settlement, wherein the youth will choose to stay in the settlement rather than going to cities seeking opportunity.

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Why IT Education

Since Ravangla lacks many realistic options for developing a livilihood, IT businesses would be a viable solution for the settlement.

IT business can be anywhere

In India now there are a lot of call centers, which at this time operate only in the city. But they could operate just as easily in more remote areas, with good phone line and internet connection. A lot of young Tibetan are working in call centers in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and so on. In fact Tibetans are given preference because it is believed that they pick up standard English accents better. Another business making wider use of the internet is translation. These work online and give real-time translating services over the phone, as well as the traditional written traslation services. Here, it is believed that Tibetans excel in language skills and communication. (His Holiness once said that Tibetans have "sharp tongue", that's why they can pick any language in its original form.) These opportunities are growing, and Tibetans should be trained to take advantage of them, especially since they are good at these skills.

Other jobs which can be done online are website development, writing for websites, graphic and media creation, and programming. Actually almost every job associated with IT can be located anywhere there is an internet connection — the person does not have to be physically present in the building of the company. Ravangla Youth showed strong interest in learning computer skills.

The Tibetan Settlement office of Ravangla confirmed to us that most of the Ravangla youth are keen to learn computers. In 2004, When the settlement office announced a two-month computer-learning course along with a wood carpentry course, more than 95% of unemployed youth registered to attend the computer course, whereas only 5% registered to attend the wood carpentry course.

Fulfilling concerns of the TGIE

The Tibetan Government-in-Exile wants Tibetan youth to remain in the settlements, whereas Tibetan youth want to go out to the cities to get jobs. IT businesses in Ravangla would solve the problem ot both the parties. The youth in Ravangla through IT education will participate in the modern economy, and still satisfy the concern of Tibetan Government in Exile that people stay in the settlement.

Market Prospects in Gangtok

Business is growing in Gangtok in particular and in the whole of Sikkim as well. Sikkim is emerging as a fast-growing state in India. Its Tourism industry is growing rapidly. The recently-started popular campaign to develop Sikkim publicises "Sikkim as the Switzerland of Asia". There is a big thrust in the development activity in Gangtok the capital city of Sikkim. There is an increasing demand for hardware and software in Gangtok. The demand for IT and network solutions has just started and there is no competition.

Gangtok is just 66 kms from Ravangla. People commute between Gangtok and Ravangla on a daily basis. So IT-trained Ravangla youth can seek jobs in Gangtok, or they can start IT-based business in Gangtok.