D’sala IT firm co-founder on Young Innovators list

lit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 7

Shilpa Jain, co-founder of Dharamsala-based IT company, Development Logics, has been selected as one of the FedEx Young Innovators 2019. Every year FedEx, a global leader in supply chain logistics, publishes a global list of 12 innovators selected from across the world.

Shilpa has been selected for doing pioneering work in taking affordable internet to rural communities in district Kangra. ‘Vayudoot’, her venture, provides high-speed internet across Kangra district. Vayudoot has managed to get the remotest villages and hamlets of the district connected to their high-speed network.

The company has also entered into an arrangement with the BSNL to roll out high- speed fibre connectivity of 100mbps in Dharamsala.

Shilpa, while talking to The Tribune, said that, “Far off government schools, farmers and even secluded settlements are now logging on to the internet and making a positive difference to their lives. I am happy that people are using our services for college applications, availing government schemes, checking weather forecasts and for all the small things.

“Our company that is providing employment to local youth is making a difference, how much small it may it. I don’t want to see anyone in the district left behind due to lack of opportunities. Fast and affordable internet is something that can make it happen. My mission is to cover every nook and corner of Kangra district, she said.

When asked if she faced difficulties in setting up her venture in a small place like Dharamsala, she said that initially the challenges were there. “We had to convince people about the quality of service we could provide to them. Interestingly, these were technocrats who had migrated from metros to work in peaceful valley of Dharamsala, who were our first customers. However, now more and more people are coming forward to take our internet services”, she said.

“Finding labour was another challenge. Interestingly, skilled youth, including engineers from the area, were not willing to work for a small company in Dharamsala for salaries up to Rs 15000 per month. We trained semi skilled youth for the needs of our company”, she said.

Pioneering work 

• Shilpa has been selected for doing pioneering work in taking affordable internet to rural communities in Kangra district. ‘Vayudoot’, her venture, provides high-speed internet across Kangra district.
• Vayudoot has got the remotest villages of the district connected to the high-speed network.
• The company has also entered into an arrangement with the BSNL to roll out high- speed fibre connectivity.