Impact Stories

Assistance of laptop during Covid-19 was indeed a blessing

Covid -19 has hit hard to each one of us. It has taken a toll on wellness, economy, employment, education and so on all over the world. The worst affected was the education of poor and lower middle class children. They couldn't cope with online education- either because of lack of smart phones or laptop or only smart phone to be shared by two or three children at the same time. In such a scenario, children in senior classes suffer the most as the concepts are hard to follow online.

Chandni Ravaliya, 21, resident of Chandlodiya too faced the same situation. A third year student of Commerce in Umiya Arts and Commerce College at Sola always had a desire to opt for professional course after Class 12. She scored 70% in Class 12.

She enrolled herself with first year commerce course along with Company Secretary ( CS) course in 2019. Her parents were very supportive of her decision. Her father, Shaileshbhai is a carpenter while mother Bhavnaben is a homemaker.

She was doing well with her college studies and CS course preparations too. Who knew Covid -19 would hit and one will witness a new world. She was managing online education of college. She secured 65% in first year of Commerce course in 2020. She appeared for Foundation course of CS in December 2020 and passed it in first trial. Not an easy feat to achieve.

She wanted to enroll herself in Executive course of CS in January 2021 but dropped herself out till May 2021. She had no laptop or tab and felt that online education won't give her best learning. Meanwhile, corona will get less effective and offline education will kick start. But corona turned deadly in May and the second wave became turbulent.

Uncertainty of corona made her decide to join Executive course of CS in the end of May 2021. She felt wasting time won't pay her the best results. She had a good time with college education in second year too and managed with a smart phone. However, things were not same with Executive course. Learning with small screen started getting difficult as subjects were also advanced.

She had coaching classes providing online education. Small screen, difficulties in learning practical and theoretical subjects with practical examples etc compelled her to ask her father for a laptop. She was very reluctant to make a demand but had no option. During Corona, her father too wasn't getting much work. His income came down from Rs 40,000 to Rs 15,000.

It is to be noted that she was learning through a smart phone and sharing it with her brother. Her brother is in Class 12 Commerce. He too had to attend school through online. That made sharing of phone very difficult. Someone or the other had to miss or sacrifice classes.

This made her father think to ask for a laptop from one of his clients- he makes furniture for them. Mazdoor team member expressed her willingness to help Chandni as she is bright and hardworking student. They provided her laptop under 'Share The Tech' campaign by InfoAnalytica. This proved a boon for her.

Shaileshbhai says, "CS course have more theoretical subjects. However, they are very technical. Teachers explain theoretical subjects with proper practical examples to make it easy and conceptually clear for the students. This is not possible through a smart phone. She is very inclined towards studying. They gifted us laptop in June 2021. She can prepare and understand well the subjects now."

Chandni adds, "Subjects like Financial Management, Taxation need proper understanding. It has to be learnt with full focus and concentration. The big screen helped me tremendously. My exams of Executive will be in June 2022."

CS was always her choice as she aims to be Compliance officer. She wants to serve the company and doesn't want to go for practice. With a stable income, she can help her family financially. She studies eight hours a day. Corporate laws, security market, foreign laws are the subjects she wants to learn more.

There is no pressure from her family to pass the exams in first trial only. But she is determined to clear it in the first trial. She has arranged a timetable for her preparations. She takes a break after every two hours of learning. She is the first in her family to take a professional course. She secured 70% in Second year of Commerce.

Her father rides cycle and goes for work. Shaileshbhai who belongs to lower middle class family says, " Education is a way to survive in coming days. She can stand on her own feet if she scores well. It is my duty to give her the best atmosphere to study as well as fulfill her requirements of education. This support is very valuable. It has helped her immensely. It came at the right time. I am sure she will do well. She never missed her lectures. She worked double hard to understand concepts with smart phone."