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Akshaya, a project under the Kerala State IT Mission, which is primarily meant to promote e-literacy among households, has tied up with Unesco, UNDP, Queens Land University of Science and Technology and University of Adelaide for content development in local languages.
T K Manzoor, director of Akshaya project, which has bagged the 10,000-euro Golden Nica award from the Austrian government, said that Kannur district has been identified for the implementation of the pilot project and research has already been commenced by a team of experts.
In an exclusive interview with Business Standard, he said that the project, 'Action Research and Local Content Production', would be completed within 18 months and in the first phase, Rs 25 lakh would be spent.
He said that the tie-up with these international institutions is a clear indication of the global recognition of the project, which aims at providing computer literacy to at least 65 lakh people in the state, representing at least one person from each household.
He added that by 2007, the number of access points, known as Akshaya e-Centers, would be increased to 3000 to touch every household in the state. Of the 1,600 e-Centres that are fully operational in eight districts, 33 percent are being run by women.
"We will achieve the target of opening 3000 Akshaya e-Centres by next year at a cost of Rs 100 crore. The state government will provide the entire funding for the project. Each centre would cater to the needs of 2000-2500 households," he said.
Apart from households, the project is also reaching out to inmates of jails in the state. The computer training, being currently given to 1,000 prisoners in the Kannur Central Jail under the project, will be extended to other jails also in the state.
He said that Akshaya centres being opened in the public-private participation provide a set of facilities to people, including e-payment of various bills.
Apart from Malappuram district, which is the first 100 percent e-literate district in the country, around 12 panchayats in various districts have achieved the coveted status of 100 percent e-literacy.
"Our aim is to transform Kerala into a 100 percent e-empowered knowledge society in a few years time," Manzoor added.
