“Creating a computer network is not just connecting wires. That’s just 20 per cent of the work,” says Amita Kapoor, co-ordinator of a Cisco- and Unifem-supported course that’s attracting many in the college. “There are more important issues, like making sure the network works and is secure. These can be done even from home.”

“Networking is not like marketing, in which girls have to spend hours outdoors. On the contrary, they have to sit at a place and make sure everything works. They are beginning to see this,” says S. Lakshmi Devi, principal of the college.

Many students have realised that putting in a few extra hours, in addition to regular coursework, will get them a certificate that will bring them IT jobs. Some have already signed up for jobs while doing summer placement with firms.

Encouraging students to take the course hasn’t been easy, but gradually it has caught on: when the course was started in 2002, there was none, but today, around 50 students join each batch.

“Our college is in east Delhi and most of our students are from lower income groups,” says Kapoor. “Even now, we face the mentality that says too much money should not be spent on women’s education and that she shouldn’t be allowed to go out of the house for long hours.”

With help from Cisco and Unifem, the college is able to keep the fee at Rs 7,000 instead of Rs 20,000 the course would cost a student. And Deepali Taneja, one of the teachers, says Bell, a hardware company, wants the college to start a batch for its own candidates.

“Girls have a definite advantage,” says Kapoor. “They obtain graduation and also get a networking certificate, so they can get into companies like HCL, Hughes, Sapient, and Patni Computers. They start at salaries of Rs 12,000-15,000 and in six months they earn more than us.”