Malliga, aged 38 hails from Sederpet village near Pondicherry and her education does not extend beyond a failed X standard and that too in Tamil medium.
Soon after she got married and settled with a husband who worked as a fitter in a local manufacturing company. Things ambled along quite nicely as she gave birth of two children when the family was jostled to its roots as her husband met with an accident at work, paralyzing an arm and a leg.
The family was devastated as the only bread winner reduced to a vegetable and medical costs running high. The compensation given by the company did not suffice to run the household nor meet the medical bills and the children too young to understand as to what hit them. Those very real bad days; full of uncertainty and destitution a real possibility.
Malliga realized that she needed to become the bread winner and was frantic for opportunities. Not an easy thing to do when you are failed SSLC with no work experience and no knowledge of English.
She joined a self help group and they suggested banks were more amenable to loans for a computer centre. Would she be interested in starting a centre? Her situation was so grim that she would have nodded her head for just about anything.
A computer firm in Chennai helped start the computer centre in the village and offered free internet access for six months. Malliga realized that with internet facility, the centre would start to make money. An engineering graduate Anbazhagan from the neighbouring village taught her basics like MS-office and Internet usage and she was up and running armed with these few random lessons.
With this basic training, she advertised her wares and soon started teaching locals in computers. Initially it was tough but each day saw her discover something new and she was soon gaining confidence. Now, she teaches computer basics and internet even to graduates, school students, and diploma holders for a nominal charge.
The lady did not stop there and started to undertake job typing, designing visiting cards, and screen printing and this enterprise actually saved her family from economic ruin.
Her determination and courage are almost village folklore and yet she remains devout and pious; thanking the Gods for staying afloat.
Computer and an illiterate can make for a wonderful concoction. Her family dotes on her and a true inspiration for many in the village on the job possibilities in the internet era. SRK and Amitabh Bachchan need not apply here!
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