UP youth turns thela into mobile cyber cafe

PRAYAGRAJ: Shivam Gupta’s internet café unfurls in an unexpected way among the carts selling all things imaginable on this ancient city’s streets. Jobless after being laid off at an automobile plant in Manesar three years ago, the 23-year-old, with no formal education in computers/IT, operates his RCG Global Service from a hand cart.
Shivam and his cafe on wheels — an out-of-the-box idea appreciated by many — can be spotted near the regional transport office (RTO) in the Naini area of Prayagraj. It’s a go-to point for people who go to the RTO for their driving licence and need printouts of documents. He also helps aspirants of competitive exams fill out forms. Add-on services include train ticket booking and money transfer.
Shivam said his family was going through a tough time after his father, the sole breadwinner, died in 2018 and he too lost his job.
“I had no work to meet my daily expenses. I opened a tea stall. It didn’t work out. So, I took a chance and opened this internet café that runs on an inverter. I have adequate knowledge of computers and online work,” he said.
He collected Rs 55,000 and bought a ‘thela’ and computer equipment. He rigged his café with a laptop, inverter, printer, keyboard and WiFi. The cart now fetches him about Rs 35,000 a month — just about enough for him to get by and pay his assistant.
“I am able to take better care of my mother and sisters,” Shivam said.