Suman is a 24 year old from a small town near Silchar ( majher Gram) in Assam, had always been the “tech helper” of his family. Whenever his uncle wanted to buy a shirt online or when his neighbors needed a railway ticket, everyone came running to Suman. At first he used to do it for free, just to help people. Slowly he realized ,this was not just help, it could actually be a small business before he can get a proper state govt Job.
This is how many youngsters in villages and small towns can turn their knowledge of the internet into income. A local e-commerce and e-ticketing shop does not need much investment but it solves big problems for many people around.
Local E-commerce assistance
In rural areas, people want to buy things online but face many small obstacles. Some people do not know how to use apps like flipkart or Meesho, some do not have UPI and many are afraid of online fraud. A person like Suman becomes the bridge for this kind of solution.
From a small desk with a computer and printer, he helps customers order clothes, mobile phones, kitchen tools or even medicines. If something goes wrong, he assists in returns and refunds. In return, he charges a small service fee.
For villagers, the value of the service is not just in the product but in the trust. They know Suman will not cheat them, they know him from childhood (parar chele) and he will make sure the product reaches properly.
E-ticketing agent Work
The second part of the business is ticket booking. In towns like Suman’s, the railway station is far away and most people do not know how to book online. They are worried about losing money or pressing the wrong button.
Suman registers as an IRCTC agent and also uses bus and flight booking websites. Now people can come to his shop to buy railway tickets, bus bookings to Guwahati or Shillong and even the occasional flight tickets. He prints the ticket, explains the travel details and charges a small fee. During exam season or wedding season his shop is full of customers.
The setup and investment
Suman started small. He borrowed his cousin’s old desktop computer and bought a second hand printer for Rs7000. His monthly costs were simple to start with- internet recharge, electricity and a chair and table for the shop. Later as business grew, he invested in a better printer and got his own IRCTC agent license.
In general, someone starting fresh may need around Rs50000 to Rs70000 to set up properly with:
- A computer or laptop ( second hand is fine)
- printer and scanner
- internet connection
- IRCTC agent registration
- basic furniture and shop rent
Compared to many businesses this investment is not very high. An the initial investment can be arranged easily.
How Customers come?
In the beginning only Suman’s neighbors came. But soon the word spread. A poster outside his shop in Assamese and Bengali saying “Ticket Booking, Online Order Help Available” did the magic. People at the tea stall talked about him, students told their parents and slowly he became known as the “online shop man.”
In villages, marketing is not about flashy ads it is about trust and visibility. Once people feel safe giving you money for tickets or online orders, they will always come back again and again.
Income possibility
The earnings are small in the beginning but steady. For every order or ticket booking Suman charges Rs50 to rs100. On a normal day, he does around 8 to10 tasks. This gives him about rs 500 to Rs 600 daily and close to Rs15000 to 17000 monthly.
During festival seasons when travel is high and people buy more clothes or gifts online, his income almost doubles. Over time he also added mobile recharge, bill payment and exam form filling service which pushed his monthly income to nearly Rs30000.
Common problems
Suman also admits it is not always smooth. Sometimes, a train ticket gets waitlisted and angry customers blame him. Sometimes refunds take time and people get restless. Internet failures or website errors also cause headaches. But by explaining things patiently and keeping all receipts, he manages to maintain trust.
Final words
A local e-commerce and e-ticketing shop is a modern version of a service center. It does not require big capital or government schemes or big investment but it needs honesty, patience and a basic but proper computer knowledge that any rural youth can have. For many young people in small towns it can be the first step into entrepreneurship.
As Suman says ” আগে আমি জাস্ট ফ্যামিলি এর লাগি করতাম যখন পুরা গ্রামের লাগিয়া করি , নিজের পায়ে দাড়াইসি , সবে বিশ্বাস কোরিয়া কাজ দেয় “(Earlier I only helped my family, now the whole village trusts me and books tickets through me.)