Imphal, Aug. 20: A small hamlet in Manipur, Nungthang Tampak, has been "declared" the country's second 100 per cent computer literate village after Kerala's Chamravattom.
The training programme offered by Mangaal Rural, an Imphal-based NGO, which is working on uplifting rural areas, concluded today with a function attended by village chief Leivon Romio Kom, elected members, representatives of citizens' organisations and villagers at the village church.
"After the Kerala village, Nungthang Tampak is the second 100 per cent computer literate village in the country," said N. Surjit, director of the NGO.
Located around 65km south of Imphal, the Kom (community) village, located in Saikot Assembly constituency of Churachandpur district, has 45 families with a population of 200. At least one member of a family is trained under this project. The main occupation of the residents is farming.
The NGO provided two computer master trainers and a room in the Nungthang Tampak Baptist Church was converted into a classroom. The trainers, engaged by the NGO, stayed at the village to ensure all residents attended the classes.
"Most them go to the paddy fields as it is the cultivation period. So the classes were open throughout the day, beginning at 5 in the morning and continued till midnight as the villagers could learn only after returning from work and household chores," Surjit said.
Twenty-three-year-old homemaker Shashniya Mangte could not hold back her tears while sharing her experience. "I always dreamt of learning computers and I always prayed. When I got married, I thought that it was the end of my dream. But today I know the basics thanks to Mangaal Rural," she said.
The NGO provided four computers with WiFi connection for the training course. The villagers were taught how to surf the Internet, compose text, save it, edit pictures, send e-mail, store data and get printouts, among others.
"My village owes a debt of gratitude to Mangaal Rural. This will be an important part of this 50-year-old village's history. We are grateful to the NGO for responding to my request. I requested Surjit to bring his project to my village after I had learnt it from my brother who is Surjit's friend," Leivon said.
After the training programme concluded, Surjit today donated a computer with WiFI and a solar lighting system to the villagers.
Mangaal Rural is now planning to provide tablets to villagers who want to have one in easy instalments. Surjit, who brought light to 8,000 households through solar power at easy instalments, said his idea is to spread modern technology in rural areas at a faster pace.
Surjit is now looking to bring his project to another village. The NGO sells solar lighting systems mostly in rural areas at easy instalments. It had earlier lit up an entire village in Imphal West through solar power.