The Hindu Business Line : `Akshaya' e-network: First MoU signed for Malappuram

AKSHAYA, touted to be among the largest social and economic e-networks in the making in the country, entered a significant phase in its stated preliminary objective of making Malappuram the first total e-literate district in the country with the signing of MoUs between the District Panchayat and entrepreneurs.

Disclosing this, a spokesman of the State IT Mission, the official implementing agency for IT in the State, said here that Mr Salim Puthenpurakkal, an entrepreneur from Nannembra Panchayat, and the first responding applicant to invitation for Akshaya entrepreneurship, signed the first MoU with the District Panchayat President, Mr M. Ummer.

The event set in motion the ambitious e-literacy project, which would eventually pave the way to establish 700-odd Akshaya Kendras in the district to impart computer training to an estimated five lakh people in the next three months.

Presiding over the function, the Minister for Industries and IT, Mr P. K. Kunhalikutty, said that the Akshaya Kendras would start imparting training in March. He emphasised the significance of the emerging political consensus in the State, which would augur well for development in other sectors. He said that the project would put the district on the global IT map.

IT to be compulsory subject: Meanwhile, the State Curriculum Committee has decided to include IT as a compulsory subject in the 8th and 9th standards of Kerala schools.

According to the spokesman, the committee has approved the new IT books for these classes. The committee has also decided to assess the IT education programme introduced as an optional subject in the 8th standard. The chapters on free software, already included in the 9th standard, will also be included in the 8th standard.

Nasscom, MAIT musings: The National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) and the Manufacturers' Association in Information Technology (MAIT) have recognised Kerala's IT potential and its rising status as the emerging IT destination in the country, the spokesman said.

Nasscom has already gone on record announcing that Kochi, the emerging IT hub, would host the next ITES Executive Council Meeting as well as a Business Process Outsourcing conclave in the coming months. The spokesman recalled the observation of Mr Kiran Karnik, President, Nasscom, at the GIM that Kerala had the potential to become the first Cyber State in the country.

Mr Vinnie Mehta, Executive Director, MAIT, commended the State Government's initiatives like `Project Akshaya', which will lead to an increase in hardware consumption.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
China, get ready for Indian summer!

He wants to light up the world

FAPCCI hails hike in allocation for industry

RBI concern over mounting deficits — Improve tax collection, States told

Study on diabetes unearths bitter truths

Kinfra pact with Korean group for support services

Textile sector divided on excise duty exemption

Customised solutions from Ion Exchange

Govt urged to look at carbonated water issue

New role for corporates in schooling

`Lower cost of school education'