VARANASI: A city caught between religion & unemployment

Picturesquely situated on the crescent shaped left bank of
the holy Ganga, Varanasi, one of the ancient seats of learning in India, is said
to be a compound of the names of two streams, the Varuna and the Assi, which
still flow in the north and south of the city respectively. This name seems to
have been corrupted, in medieval times to Benaras, which was in use till May 24,
1956, when it was changed to Varanasi, by an order of the Government of India.

Varanasi is probably one of the most ancient living cities
in India. From time immemorial it has been a great religious center for Hindus
and one of their most sacred places of pilgrimage, being visited by millions of
people every year.

At a distance of 12 km from Varanasi lies Sarnath, where Lord Buddha preached
his first sermon. Here he revealed the eight fold path that leads to the
attainment of inner peace, Enlightenment and Ultimate Nirvana.

It was also known as Kashi or Benares. There is also a
legend that his city was founded by Lord Shiva. Being one of the oldest living
and most holy city's in India, Varanasi attracts a lot of tourists, who come to
absorb the over 2000-year old history of learning and civilization that the city
has to offer.

This sacred city, which was founded ten centuries before
the birth of Christ, is mentioned in holy scriptures like ‘Vamana Purana’,
Buddhist texts and the Mahabharata. The river Ganga and the city Varanasi share
a relationship as old as time and this relationship is what makes this city the
‘City of light’.

Varanasi too like the other cities has not remained
untouched by the lean economy. The market is trying to show some optimism and
slowly trying to pick up.

Varanasi has not more than 70 resellers approximately and
is mainly dominated by the assembled segment. Which forms 60 percent of the
total market, the remaining 40 percent being that of the branded one’s.

SOHO segment is the main buyer, though government and the
corporates also from a small chunk of the customers.

The holy city is also trying to cope with the high
percentage of unemployment among its youth. Government will have to take up
constructive initiatives so that these youths do not venture into illegal means
of earning a living. With just 24.77 percent of its population employed, it
naturally shows how much the government has to achieve.

Major buyers

• Ansar Apparels Pvt. Ltd

• Avadh Behari Khanna & Bros

• Banaras Beads Ltd.

• BioTech India

• Buddha Place

• Indian Institute of Vegetable Research

• Planners Development Research Institute

• Rachana Textiles. 
   

Major Resellers

Achin Dev Computers

18/260, The Mall

Kanpur

Tel: 315429

Afzal A Siddiqui

5th Floor, Chandralok Complex

Birhana Road, Kanpur

Tel: 300969



Amafhh Communication Services

79/77, First Floor

Bansmandi, (Near Aaj Press)

Kanpur

Tel: 214433

Apsol Technologies

444/9, Shastri Nagar

Kanpur

Tel: 361321

Backup Zone

15/59, Civl Lines

Kanpur

Tel: 311904

Bhagwati Distributors

51/28, Rajaj Market

Ram Ganj, Near Ganges Hotel

Nayaganj

Kanpur

Tel: 214141/360131

Bharat Computers

5/11, Charan Singh Colony

Govind Nagar

Kanpur

Tel: 614328

Bhukania Computrinics

7/111A, Swaroop Nagar

Kanpur

Tel: 541811

Big Byte Computers

Shop No 240

Naveen Market

Kanpur

Tel: 354594

Blue Chip Enterprises

24/92, Birhana Road

Opp State Bank of Patiala

Kanpur

Tel: 10504

CK Computer

9/2, Vijay Nagar

Kanpur

Tel: 222481

Catch Me

9/10, Labour Colony

Data Nagar

Kanpur

Tel: 231507

Century Computer Centre

LGC 5, Gumti Plaza

Gumti No 5

Kanpur

216471

Comexcell Technologies

LG, 17A, Somdutt Plaza

The Mall

Kanpur

Tel: 306449/305378

Compro

8/25, Kurshawan

(Phool Bagh)

Kanpur

Tel: 250055/252076

Computer Corner

16/23, Civil Lines

Kanpur

Tel: 318094

Computer Education

107/235, Nehru Nagar

Kanpur

Tel: 541231

Compuwares

63/3, The Mall

Kanpur

Tel: 317349/355785

Dataman Computer Systems (P) Ltd

25/16, Karachi Khana

Kanpur

Tel: 316505/317191

Diamond Electronics

120, KDA Market

Vikas Nagar

Kanpur

Tel: 91512316505/317191

Digitech Computers

UG D9, Somdutt Plaza 10

The Mall

Kanpur

Tel: 293259

Dow Hitech System

8/2, A2, Arya Nagar

Manas Mandir Marg

Kanpur

Tel: 256719/291897

EI Systems

17/143, Telegraph Road

Opp St Meera School

Kanpur

Tel: 367778

Euro Computer Consultancy

620/6, Keshav Nagar

PO Juhi

Kanpur

Tel: 271486/546129

Gollo Enterprises

29/43, Maheshwari Mohal

Kanpur

Tel: 313836

Great Five Computers

G5 Computer Centre

MIG 19, Sector-3

Hemant Vihar, Barra 2

Kanpur

Tel: 612101

Hi Point Computeronics

Stall No 98 (Upstairs)

Naveen Market

Kanpur

Tel: 362522/319966

Info Today Computers

7/109, G1, Flat No 17, 

Prabhu Mahima App

Swarrop Nagar, Kanpur

Tel: 210360

Infocare

113/115, Swarrop Nagar 

Kanpur

Tel: 553875/541470

Infosoft

B12, City Center

The Mall

Kanpur

Tel: 631760

Kaizen Infotec

Thailendra Shukla Partner

Tilak Hall Lane

Meston Toad, Kanpur

Tel: 353960

Ken Electronics

111/125, Harsh Nagar

Kanpur

Tel: 541547

Lipi Data Systems Ltd

First Floor, Flat No 2014/45

Chunni Ganj, The Mall

Kanpur

Tel: 542355

Micro Chip Systems

126/46, Block Govindnagar

Kanpur

Tel: 262068/645452

Micro Info Tech

House No 2B, Pradhan Gate

Near Gyan Manjusha School

Nankari, IIT

Kanpur

Tel: 591166