Sempatti & Tangatchimadom VRC,Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu

Services offered include:

• Tele-education*

• Agricultural market information

• Programs on Banking (loan information etc.)*

• Computer training

• Livelihood earning activities (Doll making, tailoring, fruit processing)

• Crop Protection Training for Vegetable & Flower crops
  

* Programs broadcasted from Chennai Expert Centre

Use for the Beneficiaries:

• Gaining knowledge through informal education

• Computer Education/Computer awareness

• Utilization of new Technology for poor villagers

• Personality and skill development

• Improving their agricultural practices/scientific method in crop management

• Personality and skill development for youth

• Getting consultation from expert doctors free of cost

• Getting career counseling for higher education

• Receiving information on bank loans.

Highlights:

• Out of every 10 visitors to VRC, at least 4 come back for more information. The daily frequency of people coming to VRC (including VKCs) is nearly 20-25.

• People spend their money mainly on education and health/sanitation.

• Village knowledge workers get training from time to time and receive information on the activities conducted by other Knowledge workers.

General Observations

Problems Faced

• Satellite connectivity continues to erratic.

• Less number of resource persons as many projects are handled by them at the same time (Average 5-6 persons per VRC).

• Financial sustainability is an issue because the operating cost of VRC is covered by other projects.

• Difficulty in mobilizing people for any event.

Shortcomings

• No provision for any incentive for working good.

• Timely availability of localized content is a big issue.

• No revenue generation activity at any VRC.

• All VRCs are cost centres rather than becoming self-sustainable.