Commerce institutes to go without business soon

Commerce institutes, popularly known as typewriting institutes, that were in great demand once, will soon become extinct, thanks to the advent of computers, laptops and other gadgets that have made typing easy, sans any training.

The institutes, which were abuzz with activity earlier, have no takers now. They wear a deserted look most of the times. Those who were dependent on such institutes for a living are a worried lot.

According to an estimate, there were 26 such institutes in 1980, each having not less than 200 students. They were imparting shorthand classes, which were once considered a basic criteria to land a job. As it was not possible for the government to extend commerce education to all, the Primary and Secondary Education Board had permitted private parties to open such institutes, which had to renew their licence every year. Later, they were issued permanent licences.

Once computers became popular, there was a drastic change in the scenario and the government also made computer education compulsory. With schools and colleges introducing computers in their curriculum, commerce institutes had no students at all.

H N Ramakrishna, in his 70s, who was running an institute from 1961 said, even after 20 years of applying for permission to offer computer education at the institute, he was yet to get a permit.

Hoping to get permission, he had also purchased several computers, that are lying idle.
He appealed to the government to provide pension to those who were dependent on these institutes. He is planning to approach the court in this regard.