Gorakhpur: How a Village Computer Class Is Helping Students Beat OTP Fraud

In Bhatahat village in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, Vijay Gupta has opened a modest computer training centre with a clear mission, to equip students and first-time users to handle everyday digital tasks on their own. From filling government and college forms to booking railway tickets online, Gupta’s curriculum is designed to cut dependence on cyber cafés and reduce the risk of one-time-password, OTP, fraud that often targets young users.

From curious tinkerer to village trainer

Gupta, the founder of the centre, grew up fascinated by electronics, building small projects and experimenting with motors and bulbs. He first engaged seriously with computers in 2012 when he enrolled for structured training. After completing his graduation in 2014, he began teaching at local centres, and the classroom experience convinced him that many students lacked simple, practical digital skills. Rather than continue as an instructor for others, he decided to set up his own unit so that he could shape the syllabus and keep fees affordable for village families.

His qualifications reflect a hands-on path, Class 10 and 12, a bachelor’s degree completed in 2014, ITI Electrician, O-Level and ADCA in computer applications, and a D.El.Ed through NIOS. This mix of vocational and academic learning now informs how he teaches teenagers in Classes 8 to 12 as well as recent graduates.

Why focus on online forms and tickets

According to Gupta, OTP-led fraud is a growing worry for first-time internet users. Many students visit cafés to complete forms, then disclose OTPs on the phone believing the request is part of the process. The mistake can expose bank details and lead to financial loss. By training students to create accounts, manage passwords, and complete forms end to end by themselves, he argues, the risk reduces and confidence rises.

The emphasis, he adds, is on safe digital behaviour, from basic device hygiene to recognising suspicious prompts.

Powered by a state skilling and MSME push

Gupta credits the CM Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan Yojana for turning intent into enterprise. As per his account, he applied through the MSME office in Gorakhpur, underwent a 90-hour entrepreneurship module, received certification, and secured a loan that, combined with his own savings, enabled him to rent space and purchase systems. The formal skilling in business basics, from cash flow to compliance, helped him plan a lean setup and start operations recently.

Inside the curriculum

• Foundations, typing, file management, and components of a PC.
• Essential applications, spreadsheets and documents for school and government formats.
• Online citizen services, portals for scholarships, admissions, and utility payments.
• Railway ticketing and travel bookings, with practice workflows.
• Digital safety, creating email and IDs, OTP etiquette, basic cyber security and privacy.

Fees are kept modest so that village students can attend, he says. Sessions run after school hours to suit Class 8 to 12 timetables, while weekend slots are reserved for graduates seeking certification or help with competitive exam applications.

The centre is in its early days, and word of mouth is building batch by batch. Gupta, the founder and instructor, is focused on one outcome, ensuring that a teenager from Bhatahat can fill a form or book a ticket without handing a phone to a stranger. For a village that is steadily coming online, that small shift in confidence could make a big difference.