A kiosk based model for employment generation in rural areas

Unemployment, especially among the youth, is a pressing issue in many rural areas. This paper proposes a model of local employment generation in rural or underdeveloped areas, which often do not have an adequate infrastructure (including wireless connectivity and uninterrupted electricity supply) to enable them to take advantage of technology. We assume that most people in such areas already possess and can make use of a basic mobile phone with facilities to call and text. Our model uses a kiosk based architecture (similar to ITC's e-Chaupal), with a subscription based model of services to standalone clients. The kiosks are equipped with net connectivity and enable the services to the mobile phones of the clients, with each kiosk serving up to 500 rural users. Users looking for work update their employable skills at the system, while users needing jobs done post the details. The system connects the skills with the places where needed, and includes the facilities to rank employment seeking users with their suitability for the job in real time. Such a model is feasible to run with optimal costs, and can play a good role in stimulating local employment and ultimately the local economy.