QUOTE(Ganga Adhikari @ Mercantile Communications)
Kalimpong, a small town in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India is slowly changing its outlook - from a non-descript hill station, it is marching ahead embracing the technological innovations.
Kalimpong is marching in step with the rest of the world by adopting the technological marvels offered by the information technology. The pace of change brought about by new technologies in Kalimpong has had significant effect in all aspects of the local life here. Accessibility to growing modern information technologies has, more specifically, helped the people of this hill town reach the outside world through the window of the Internet.
Like elsewhere, the technological development in Kalimpong has opened up a new world of opportunities for the people living here. New for them, the Kalimpong residents are crazy about IT facilities through which they can remain updated about the world events.
For innovators, IT has become a boon to learning while for majority of the youngsters, it is fun. People here have embraced the Internet, mobile-phones and similar gadgets with a newfound gusto.
To keep up with the growing attraction of the Internet world, Cyber Cafes have mushroomed around the uneven town. According to BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) office in Kalimpong, more than eighteen cyber cafes are operate here: Odyssey Internet cafe, Acupuncture and Electro Homeo Hall, Rinchen Cyber Cafe, Big Byte computer, Contact Point, Orient Network, Himalayan Automations, Cyber Infotech are some of them.
At all hours, the cafes remain packed with young and old. An employee with the Odyssey Internet Café said, "Especially the youths of the age-group 15-30 years are found at the Internet Cafes where they seem to be lost in the cyber world of entertainment."
Kaliimpong youths are hooked to Internet. Each of these cafes see around 40-50 visitors per day, spending time. These visitors, mostly students, basically use the Internet for receiving and sending mails. Chatting is most popular, casual or serious. Besides, they also search for e-books, look for current news, download and play games. Microsoft Internet Gaming zone is one of the best sites the students enjoy playing games and making new friends.
One of the visitors said, "I find the Internet really amazing, interesting, informative entertaining and is easier and better than traditional communication media like newspapers or radio." As interest towards Internet grows, young people are casting aside papers, magazines, radio, and even television.
The cafes charge high fares despite growing demands. The cafes charge around IRs 40 to 50 (NRs 64 – 80) per hour which is a pretty high amount for people to afford on daily basis.
Students at the Cluny Women's College during their IT classes.
Students at the Cluny Women's College during their IT classes.
Although, many Internet Service Providers (ISPs), such as BSNL, SATYAM etc have floated domestic Internet connections services for personal use to the public, most people find it difficult to be connected just because of their high costs. Also the wireless ISPs like Broadband, Airtel, Rim also operate here, which mostly are subscribed by offices, business groups or Internet cafes. BSNL officials said less than 25 percent of the people in Kalimpong can afford to subscribe to Internet connections at home.
E-mail has become the key part of communication for all offices and schools, big or small. Almost all colleges and schools in and around Kalimpong have begun computer education. All students in schools and colleges enjoy 24-hour access to the Internet. They are taught basic computer operation and ways to surf the Internet. The basic knowledge of operating system and Internet accessibility help students to be familiar with the use of expanding technology, which has already become the unavoidable necessity of human life.
Colleges imparting higher education like Cluny Women's College (CWC) has included Bachelors of Computer Application (BCA) as one of the courses since 2004. Likewise B. B. Pradhan Managament College (BMC) also has included BCA course from the last academic session. The inclusion of the IT education in formal education has encouraged the local people to pursue their higher education in IT, the subject on which India has gained praiseworthy achievements in recent years.
In addition to this, training institutes like NIIT have also started operating.
For youngsters, Internet means a vehicle to learn about business policies, lifestyles, customs, politics, religion, art and culture around the world. Further, exchange of ideas with people overseas has built confidence among the young people to pursue their profession in IT.
People of Kalimpong, who remained isolated from outside world till a few years back, have been well served by the growing Internet facilities.
Journey of a thousand mile starts with a single step. In the same way, Kalimpong has made its first tentative step towards the World-Wide-Network connections to enter the global world and be a member of the larger family. This hill station is no longer an isolated town today.
Kalimpong is marching in step with the rest of the world by adopting the technological marvels offered by the information technology. The pace of change brought about by new technologies in Kalimpong has had significant effect in all aspects of the local life here. Accessibility to growing modern information technologies has, more specifically, helped the people of this hill town reach the outside world through the window of the Internet.
Like elsewhere, the technological development in Kalimpong has opened up a new world of opportunities for the people living here. New for them, the Kalimpong residents are crazy about IT facilities through which they can remain updated about the world events.
For innovators, IT has become a boon to learning while for majority of the youngsters, it is fun. People here have embraced the Internet, mobile-phones and similar gadgets with a newfound gusto.
To keep up with the growing attraction of the Internet world, Cyber Cafes have mushroomed around the uneven town. According to BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) office in Kalimpong, more than eighteen cyber cafes are operate here: Odyssey Internet cafe, Acupuncture and Electro Homeo Hall, Rinchen Cyber Cafe, Big Byte computer, Contact Point, Orient Network, Himalayan Automations, Cyber Infotech are some of them.
At all hours, the cafes remain packed with young and old. An employee with the Odyssey Internet Café said, "Especially the youths of the age-group 15-30 years are found at the Internet Cafes where they seem to be lost in the cyber world of entertainment."
Kaliimpong youths are hooked to Internet. Each of these cafes see around 40-50 visitors per day, spending time. These visitors, mostly students, basically use the Internet for receiving and sending mails. Chatting is most popular, casual or serious. Besides, they also search for e-books, look for current news, download and play games. Microsoft Internet Gaming zone is one of the best sites the students enjoy playing games and making new friends.
One of the visitors said, "I find the Internet really amazing, interesting, informative entertaining and is easier and better than traditional communication media like newspapers or radio." As interest towards Internet grows, young people are casting aside papers, magazines, radio, and even television.
The cafes charge high fares despite growing demands. The cafes charge around IRs 40 to 50 (NRs 64 – 80) per hour which is a pretty high amount for people to afford on daily basis.
Students at the Cluny Women's College during their IT classes.
Students at the Cluny Women's College during their IT classes.
Although, many Internet Service Providers (ISPs), such as BSNL, SATYAM etc have floated domestic Internet connections services for personal use to the public, most people find it difficult to be connected just because of their high costs. Also the wireless ISPs like Broadband, Airtel, Rim also operate here, which mostly are subscribed by offices, business groups or Internet cafes. BSNL officials said less than 25 percent of the people in Kalimpong can afford to subscribe to Internet connections at home.
E-mail has become the key part of communication for all offices and schools, big or small. Almost all colleges and schools in and around Kalimpong have begun computer education. All students in schools and colleges enjoy 24-hour access to the Internet. They are taught basic computer operation and ways to surf the Internet. The basic knowledge of operating system and Internet accessibility help students to be familiar with the use of expanding technology, which has already become the unavoidable necessity of human life.
Colleges imparting higher education like Cluny Women's College (CWC) has included Bachelors of Computer Application (BCA) as one of the courses since 2004. Likewise B. B. Pradhan Managament College (BMC) also has included BCA course from the last academic session. The inclusion of the IT education in formal education has encouraged the local people to pursue their higher education in IT, the subject on which India has gained praiseworthy achievements in recent years.
In addition to this, training institutes like NIIT have also started operating.
For youngsters, Internet means a vehicle to learn about business policies, lifestyles, customs, politics, religion, art and culture around the world. Further, exchange of ideas with people overseas has built confidence among the young people to pursue their profession in IT.
People of Kalimpong, who remained isolated from outside world till a few years back, have been well served by the growing Internet facilities.
Journey of a thousand mile starts with a single step. In the same way, Kalimpong has made its first tentative step towards the World-Wide-Network connections to enter the global world and be a member of the larger family. This hill station is no longer an isolated town today.