Click to play videoThey say in the streets of Kabul, India lives in the hearts of every Afghan.
“They say Indians are like brothers to them,” says Guruswamy, an Indian Engineer who works KEC International in Afghanistan.
Indians are bringing in visible change in Afghanistan. The Government of India has almost completed work on a 200-kilometre transmission line, which will bring in power from Central Asia to Kabul. The 220-kilovolt double-circuit power transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul will draw power from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan.
“NEPS will import power from Uzbekistan. Kabul will get power by October,” says GM, Powergrid Corporation of India, Afghanistan, V Shekhar.
The Power Grid Corporation of India is building the most challenging part of the transmission line — the part that goes over the avalanche-prone Hindukush Mountains.
“Tower spotting was a difficult task. We had to also be careful about mines,” Shekhar says.
Kabul has faced years of acute power shortage. But next month, relief could come through 700 pre-fabricated towers shipped all the way from India.
The transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul is one of the most important infrastructure projects that India has undertaken in the war-ravaged country.
Near Salang, where the transmission line is 4,000 metres above sea level, Afghan workers and Indian engineers extend cables from one tower to another. Indian engineers have specially designed these towers and transmission lines to withstand extreme weather.
At Chimtala, near Kabul, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited is in charge of the sub-station part of a $ 110 million project. The ambitious project has received threats from various terror outfits. But Indian officials in charge say none have been carried out, perhaps due to the goodwill India enjoys in the area.
“India has provided great assistance to Afghanistan. They are doing their best after US,” says Managing Editor, Pahjwok News Agency, Farida Nekhzad.
At the Afghanistan-India Vocational Training Centre set up by the Confederation of Indian Industries, signs of change that India is bringing in are visible. Modelled on the Industrial Training Institutes in India, these centres in Kabul are training Afghans to take part in rebuilding their country.
“I will set up a carpentry workshop once my training is over. My country was destroyed in the war. Now there are many opportunities available for those who can take part in the reconstruction economy. This institute is a boon for us. As a professional carpenter I can earn 60,000 to 90,000 thousand Afghani,” says Ashmitullah, a carpentry apprentice at the institute.
Project Director, Afghanistan-India Vocational Training Centre, Col (Retd) Ravindra Nath Kharbanda says, “Afghanis are poor and unskilled people, a big percentage of whom are in the age group of 20 and below. All are healthy and this is a viable force. And now is the time Afghanistan is rebuilding its infrastructure. By training these people they can be employed and improve the economy of this country.”
Indian trainers like Jagdish Kumar are creating a skilled work force for Afghanistan.
“In Afghanistan there is lot of construction going on, so if they learn here properly then they can earn. We give them training about everything regarding construction,” says Jagdish Kumar, Masonry Trainer, Afghanistan-India Vocational Training Centre.
Colonel Kharbanda says he has been getting calls from many provinces of Afghanistan requesting him to set up industrial training centres.
“We have a large response. I have been getting response from governors and provinces whether we could accommodate their people and whether similar facilities can be opened in their state,” Colonel Kharbanda says.
At the Bagh-E-Zanana in Kabul the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) has set up this vocational training centre. The Gujarat-based NGO opened the training centre in 2006. Their aim was to empower Afghan women by training them in vegetable farming, food processing and entrepreneurship. In the process they also intend to build a 'Green Kabul'.
“ I have learnt how to set up a nursery and vegetable garden. I have also learnt landscaping. We thank the Indian Government for giving us this opportunity to earn our own living. If we organise ourselves as a group, then we can earn more money and with that money we can support our families,” says an Zahra, an Afghan apprentice at SEWA.
Another apprentice Srashtra says, “I have a garden. When I complete my training I want to convert this garden into a vegetable farm and start a new business.”
Afghan women now meet and talk about how to be economically secure. It would have been impossible eight years ago when the Taliban ran the country.
Many are planning to start home-based businesses after they leave the centre.
“We will earn more money if we set up a cooperative. If we join hands and pool resources, we will be better off than doing business on our own,” Nafisa, who’s an apprentice too, suggests.
The spirit of the Afghan women has got Kabul and New Delhi to keep up the momentum. SEWA is now planning to set up a Community Business Resource Centre at Bagh-e-Zanana.
“They are taking lot of interest to learn. Last week, one of the ladies started a business and sold the juice that they had prepared and earned some money. So they are trying to earn a livelihood and helping their families. So this is kind of development,” says SEWA member, Kabul, Rosemary.
India is making a difference In Afghanistan by training and giving skills to Afghans who can then join the rebuilding and reconstruction effort in their country.
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