Sitting
on my chair, I was highly immersed in formulating the various strategies for
the day to day activities. The responsibilities entrusted to the Director of
one Rural Self Employment Training Institute differ from that of other educational
institutions or administrative offices.
As
a director, while I was just thinking of recruiting suitable trainees for the
forthcoming training programs in regard to “Mushroom cultivation” and many
other programs I heard somebody knocking the door of my cabin.
Without
taking my eyes from the working sheets on my desk I told, “Yes - come in”.
“Sir,
I am Edward”.
Immediately
on seeing the news brief released in various Tamil dailies by the Institute,
for recruitment of trainees for the training program on – “Mobile phones
servicing and repairing”, I started receiving a large number of representations
in person, by post and over phone from aspiring trainees.
Amidst
the crowd, Edward a medium built personality around 35 years’ old peeped
himself inside my cabin and started listening to my conditions.
“Sir,
I am Edward and I require training on mobile servicing and repairing”.
“We
offer various training courses for the educated unemployed and financially
deprived persons including housewives towards upgradation of their skills in
specified areas and we motivate them and infuse confidence in them towards
becoming an entrepreneur. I require
people who had completed tenth standard and above to be recruited as trainees
for this training program. I admit persons who had completed tenth standard and
above only. Do you have the requisite qualifications?”
Once
my introductory speech was over, he started telling.
“Yes
sir”.
“In
case you had not completed your tenth standard, I regret that I could not
continue further in this connection”.
Suddenly,
I could sense his face becoming pale.
He
started telling, “I had completed my tenth standard seventeen years back. I am
Engineering graduate with triple “Es”.”
“Friend,
in such a case, I hope you can better get employed as an engineer in any
government department or a private organization. Normally persons with higher
qualifications do not pay much attention in the training program and I do not
require trainees having lesser interest”
He
could not take back his eyes from me. He started becoming nervous for some time
and I could find that he was afraid of not getting an admission for the
training program. He wanted to reply immediately; however, appeared struggling for words and I thought that he might cry at any time.
However,
he started telling, “Sir, I am the only boy in my family and I have three
sisters. My father is a farmer earning very meager income. I could complete my
engineering degree after a long financial struggle. My family members struggled
for my studies because I was the only child in my family who paid much
attention to the studies. They imagined that I could earn at least Rs. 15000 on
completion of my graduation. But in reality I was not so. I could have walked
into more than 200 organizations throughout the state. When I fould that I
could not get a job as an Engineer even after five years of my completion of
engineering graduation, I offered to work myself for a meager salary of Rs.
2000 per month in a company as a sales representative for selling their
products. That too not lasted for more than six months. Since the company could
not continue their business, I was compelled to go for the job hunt again. I
had almost forgetten that I am engineering
graduate. All my attention was towards getting a job – whatever it may be in
order to take care of my old parents and to get my sisters married soon. I hope
that I can start a mobile servicing unit once you permit me to attend the
training course offered by you since I find that your way of conducting the training
programs are reported to be good and I could also find that the training is
offered free of cost”.
Without
any hesitation, I admitted him to the program and he was one among the bright
trainees who took keen interest in learning the entire skills of servicing
mobile phones.
I
recollected all my memories of the past and wearing a bright smile on my face,
I asked him.
“How
are you and what can I do for you, Edward?”
“Sir,
with the help of your Rural Self Employment Training Institute by offering me a
training on “Servicing of mobile phones.” I found that I had grown to a great
extent both mentally and emotionally. With your guidance I had started a mobile
servicing unit in my area a month back and on an average I am earning an amount
of Rs. 600 a day. I could also remember, as to how, I had struggled for Rs.
2000 per month five years back. I am really thankful to you and your Institute
for having promoted me as an entrepreneur and I have great hopes that sooner or
later I will be one among the top entrepreneurs in the area”.
He
gave me a leaflet which outlined the services offered by his servicing unit and
he also invited me to pay a visit to his shop.
I
saw him move out of my cabin briskly and confidently. I could recollect the
words uttered by Paul Solomon:
“I
believe you come into the world to accomplish something and not something small
or insignificant. That is not worthy of you. You came here to make a major
contribution to life in this planet”.
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