Nasscom Foundation and post-trade technology firm Arcesium jointly established the first rural digital literacy centre in Telangana, in Peddashapur village, on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The Centre trains people in use of computers and mobile phones so that they will be able to register for Aadhar, ration, PAN cards, pay bills, send emails and use the internet for multiple utilities. The initiative is under the ePradhan Mantri Gamin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan. Arcesium is supporting the training infrastructure and the trainers at the centre with the help of its implementation partner, Nirmaan Organisation. The centre is equipped to train as many as 1,000 beneficiaries from under-privileged communities around the Peddashapur area, according to a press release. The legislator representing Rajendranagar, Prakash Goud said it was necessary for children from villages to develop their competitive skills.

Srikanth Srinivasan, Regional Director, Nasscom Foundation, said this is the tenth centre in Telangana. Nine centres are in cities. So far, around 7,000 youths have been trained, with each centre accounting for 1,000-1,200. At the national level so far, 170 centres have been established.

The Centre has devised a curricular of 20 hours with two hours per day to impart training on how to use internet, how to use various apps the Centre has introduced and avail benefit from the schemes.

Ranvijay Lamba, Country Head, Arcesium India, said the collaboration with Nasscom will be further strengthened to reach more rural youth and skill them.