When NIIT, Asia’s largest IT training firm headquartered near New Delhi, wanted to extend its services to rural India, it faced unforeseen challenges. For example, to reach village schools in remote areas in the northeastern state of Assam, computers had to be carried on the backs of elephants, according to Rajendra S. Pawar, NIIT’s chairman and co-founder. At some locations, NIIT’s forays required the installation of the first telephone line or power line in the village. Pawar spoke with India Knowledge at Wharton about these issues and more — including NIIT’s experience in providing IT education in China — during the Wharton India Economic Forum in Philadelphia earlier this month.
