Hi-tech Ganesan - technology in action in rural TN

Ganesan does his business in the town of Sirkali in the Nagapattinam district.No one knows his full name, they call him "Hi Tech", that is his service and organisation name rolled into one. He books bus tickets in major private, "hi tech" buses that go past Sirkali. The townsfolk are his customers. He carries two mobile phones so that people can reach him if not in one at least the other. They just have to call and inform him as to which bus and how many tickets they need, he would cycle down to their house or office and deliver the ticket directly. He would also stand by in the bus stand till the last "hi-tech" bus with the passenger for whom he has made a booking has been safely boarded and only then leave for him, even if it is at a late hour like 02.00 a.m. For Ganesan life was not always like this, he used to own and operate a printing press earlier, though business was on, it didn't fetch him any great business. He hardly scraped each month and survival was at times difficult. But, the advent of the mobile phone changed it all. "Hi Tech" was born, today he earns about 7 - 10 thousands each month. He has also expanded his business to include delivery of home goods and groceries for elderly and invalids, dealing with second hand furniture, dealing with real estate enquiries and expanding all the time. "I need to serve this community as best as I can in whatever way I can", he says. His brother too helps him with the business currently. He also brings out a local newspaper that provides commercial space for advertising along with useful information for the townspeople on a variety of issues. Ganesan is an example of what a technology could become in the hands of enterprising rural folks. He feels happy in making others happy and that concern for others has provided him the motivation to exploit the mobile phone technology to its maximum. "He can see people off at the bus stand at 2 in the morning and still greet people cheerfully on the phone in the morning at 6, his commitment is excellent", says one of his regular customers. Today not just Ganesan, but, thousands of people like him in the unorganised sector have found out and are constantly exploiting the modern technologies .