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The Akshaya project
Introduction
The Akshaya project in the rural Malappuram
district of Kerala, India,
is the first district-wide e-literacy project in
India, and one of the largest known
Internet Protocol (IP) based wireless networks. Through a test
network of over 600 village telecenters, known as e-Centers,
Akshaya has conducted one of the world's largest computer
literacy drives, claiming to reach over 600,000 households,
representing more than 3.6 million people, in less than 6
months. The project has created a unique brand of state-funded
computer access centers, and simultaneously led to a massive
wireless infrastructure, providing a wide range of services and
making way to many future opportunities. This paper analyzes
Akshaya's approach to e-literacy, telecenter sustainability and
entrepreneurship, and its goals of using the technology
infrastructure to piggyback a number of social services.
The
project is a state-private partnership, in which the state
agency Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) planned the project, set
up the connectivity infrastructure, marketed the idea, developed
an e-literacy program and created an initial suite of
applications. The physical space, equipment, and operations of
the telecenters (known as e-Centers) were responsibilities of
local entrepreneurs, selected by the state government in
conjunction with local village council members.
E-literacy
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E-literacy was the first
phase of the project,
during which every
household could send one
member to the local
e-Center to acquire
training in the basics
of computing. The state
paid about 85% of the
cost of this training as
incurred by the
entrepreneurs. Following
the e-literacy phase,
all the e-Centers were
free to operate as cyber
cafés (with recommended
rates for charging), and
as training centers for
a variety of services
for the local areas
including online payment
and e-government
services.
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Achievements
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e-literacy-
5.8 lakh
people
trained
in
e-literacy,
60 % of
the
people
trained
are
women
-
District
Panchayath
along
with
Akshaya
Project,
prepared
a CD ROM
on SSLC
Examination
after
identifying
the hard
spots, (
Malappuram
District
has got
the
lowest
pass
percentage
in SSLC).
20000
students
trained
in that
programme,
and the
results
go up by
12
percentage
points.
-
Programme
to
improve
Capacity
building
of the
students-
career
counseling,
general
knowledge
update
with CD
etc
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Expected Direct Benefits
At least 1 computer literate person in every home in the state
Network of 6000 modern Community Information Centres across the state
Convenient access for the common man to information services within 2Kms.
Social and economic empowerment of Local Community
Generate locally relevant content
Generate over 50,000 direct employment opportunities in three years
Generate direct investment of over Rs. 500 crores in 3 years
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Akshaya Present Status
Akshaya Centres in the district now connected with a minimum connectivity speed of 16 kbps to 64 kbps. Intranet facility is also working in Malappuram to enable Centre to Centre communication and Centre to Government Communication and it is almost free. New technologies like Vides Streaming through the centres, where e-learning and e-health is possible. Number of e-governance activities including e-parathi (District Collector’s Grievance Redressal System), Enrich (Platform for Grass root level data collection and publication through a website run by NIC), Service Delivery System using Enrich. Local Self Governments in the district is using Akshaya network to digitize more than 30 lakh birth, marriage and death registrations. Collection of Government dues through a sophisticated web enabled system with State Bank of India as partner for Internet Banking is also enabled in the district. Now Akshaya Centres are colleting dues of KSEB and BSNL which can be extended to another eight departments of Government of Kerala. Projects are under discussion with Agriculture, Fisheries and Health department to roll out their extension programmes through Akshaya Centres. The corporate sector is trying to use Akshaya Centres for their product display, promotion, sales and for cash collection. 450 Akshaya Centres are working well in the distr |
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