Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003 |
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Industry & Economy
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Education `Akshaya' to put Kerala online Our Bureau
Bangalore , Nov. 4 THE effects of Wi-fi (wireless fidelity) technology in revolutionising communication will be felt when the Kerala Government's `Akshaya' achieves 100 per cent e-literacy through its pilot project in Malappuram district. Wi-Fi is a wireless local area network (WLAN) technology that provides an alternative means of connecting to the Internet. Giving details of the programme at a press conference here, the Kerala Minister for Information and Technology and Industries, Mr P.K. Kunhalikutty, today said the Government hoped to cover six lakh people under the programme. The project will be later extended to all 14 districts of the State. Mr Kunhalikutty said Wi-fi deployment will leverage Malappuaram's distinct advantage of maximum telephone connectivity and the initiative shown by the panchayat in providing computer training to its population. With the new technology, the Government hopes to quicken the process and take Askhaya to other districts soon. A public-private initiative, the Akshaya project has commenced in 600 centres in Malappuram providing them with Intranet connectivity with access to broadband Internet 24x7. The Government plans to roll out the Malappuram model across Kerala in about two years, said Ms Aruna Sundarajrajan, Secretary, IT Department. She said the project is being co-ordinated by a private company, Tulip IT Services, which will provide wi-fi technologies from its principals in Canada, the UK and the US. The total cost of the pilot project is Rs 20-30 crore. The Government's contribution will be to the extent of providing subsidy for the e-literacy campaign of Rs 8 crore. The 3.5-lakh Akshaya centres, each of which will provide access to about 2,500 families for learning and then accessing, will be set up by private entrepreneurs. Ms Sundarajan said the Government was planning to tap multilateral agencies for funding the project. The State needed about 8,000 to 10,000 Akshaya centres, he added.
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