KARUR:
Piping hot cuppa, along with the morning newspapers and equally hot gossip is
what tea shops have relied on for generations to attract customers. But a tea
shop owner here has added a twist to attract the younger generation by offering
absolutely free WiFi. No strings attached, so you don't need to buy tea to use
the WiFi. Also, you can use it for as long as you want. Cool, isn't it?
No
wonder, Ramakrishnan, owner of the Sethu Tea-Coffee outlet, has youngsters from
surrounding villages and colleges hooked to his joint.
"The
monthly charge for the unlimited WiFi is about D1,500. But it has helped me
gain more business," he says. Earlier a lorry driver, Ramakrishnan
ventured into the eatery business to try and make a difference as an
entrepreneur. "I have a customer who travels 10 km everyday at 5 am for a
cup of tea and free Internet," he says beaming with pride. The shop has
now become a hard-to-miss landmark on the Karur-Esanatham road. Anyone crossing
the shop can find youngsters lounging around glued to their devices. Students
from Thanthonimalai Government Arts and Science College are among his loyal
customers. "It is not necessary to buy tea or coffee to use the WiFi
connection and we do not restrict people from staying as long as they
want," quips Ramakrishnan. "Apart from providing WiFi, I also try and
keep my premises clean."
For
the Union government that is embarking on a massive digital inclusion mission
targeting the rural areas, people like Ramakrishnan could be the torchbearers.
Source: Newshunt
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