‘Underprivileged lack road map’
Sharad Vajpayee, CEO of VelaiSMS outlines the skill development needs of the rural poor

By Shubhdarshani Mitra
VelaiSMS, an organisation that believes in empowering rural poor through digital revolution aims to build a sustainable proposal for a positive transformation. It works with Government, enterprises and partners associated with skills development. The idea is to enable employability with the help of technology. The organisation works by matching the requirements of employment reformers along with the trained manpower from employability reformers. Sharad Vajpayee, Co-founder and CEO of VelaiSMS speaks to Skills Ahead about his initiative. Excerpts from an interview:

How and when did VelaiSMS come into being? What was the motivation behind the startup?
VelaiSMS was conceived in April 2009 and we had our first set of subscribers/beneficiaries by June 2009. It was the outcome of an understanding of few individuals, who wanted to do something in India after having worked outside India for several years. The intent was that though we are a digital powerhouse (even though back office), powering several large corporate around the world, we, the people who have access to knowledge, learning and experience are not doing enough to bring the same to our Bharat, which is digitally challenged, lives in rural India and speaks local vernacular language. VelaiSMS was conceived based on a principle, that let’s deliver the simplest, most scalable and adaptable piece of technology solution to masses at the lowest possible cost.

How does the organisation work? Who does it benefit and how?
It is a service where seeker and provider of information gets on board on to a platform and collaborate in Voice and Text form. The information exchange is about prospect of jobs. It benefits employer, trainer, employed and unemployed worker who earns less then Rs 200/day and in near future has no possibility of accessing personalised internet over desktop/laptop.

Which region/s do you cater and why did you feel the need to address the needs of rural poor?
We did our pilot in Tamil Nadu and we are now expanding into other states. We feel that there is a need to address the needs of rural poor as we feel a personal conviction to contribute back to the society and bridge the social visible gap of digital divide, which in turn is forcing rural poor to pay 30% or more of his daily salary to access information.

Where all do you think the underprivileged people lack when it comes to skill-based employment opportunities?
Underprivileged people only lack the road map of career and progress. No one educates them and makes them believe that if they are skilled they would earn more. There is no demonstrable example in their neighbourhood. If they can know that skill upgradation will fetch them more money, and if someone, even one in their neighbourhood gets such a job, you would be surprised how many would queue up to go after skill based employment opportunities. We are aspiring to not only share information but also create such role models right in their neighbourhood.

How important is proper training opportunities for these people?
Training will help employer to get cheaper, better and create abundance of resource, which in real world would increase productivity too. But, lack of personalised information about such training is holding back such a mass adoption.

Do you think our government is doing enough when it comes to skills training? Kindly elaborate.
I think it is only the Government that is doing. I have very little experience in Government sector but I am surprised how effective and targeted approach Government has. Private enterprises virtually don’t exist. I believe it is primarily due to lack of eco-system. As time progresses, the social dimension would become profit driven and automatically there would be an eco-system build in the process. But as of now, it is government that is driving not only training but very creative programmes to facilitate and encourage many to come into mainstream.

What the shortcomings or problems faced by you or your organisation?
I see no shortcoming or problems. We are a learning organisation and we are evolving. We have done our share of mistakes and we would do more. Each new challenge we face makes us better than what we were before. Lack of someone to look upon or copy or learn from is a reality, which is not a shortcoming but an opportunity to be taken as a torch bearer.

What is the road ahead?
We intend to go deeper into communities and build a sustainable organisation across India.

— To know more about VelaiSMS log on to www.velaisms.in