Akshaya - India

Organisers describe the project as aiming to create a community "successfully re-inventing itself for prosperity" ("Akshaya" means "perpetuating prosperity" in the local language). To this end, Akshaya addresses three issues in IT dissemination:

• bringing the benefits of technology to even the most rural households (access)
• providing an information base in local language that is relevant to citizens' lives (content)
• fostering an understanding of the world of IT and how it can improve lives (skills).

In terms of the technology itself, the project involves the setting up of multi-purpose IT-enabled "Akshaya Kendras" in every two wards, each catering to approximately 1000 families. The idea is that each centre will become the primary contact point for residents in its vicinity by offering facilities that citizens can use to simplify their day-to-day activities. A typical Akshaya Kendra is equipped with computers, printers, fax machines, and photocopiers. Other services available may include computer rental and Internet telephony, as well as government information and forms for various government services. Organisers plan to integrate communities through the creation of e-networks and a community portal.

Local Akshaya bodies will use a rating scale to select "entrepreneurs" who have prior entrepreneurial experience and familiarity with the local region to run the centres. The commitment to work full-time and provide quality service, as well as the ability to form a bond with the local community, are other necessary qualities. For a 3-year period, this person will be provided with marketing guidance/support, technical guidance for continuous improvements, content generation related support, and overall management support. At each centre, the entrepreneur will set up the infrastructure and then meet with community members to convince them of the usefulness of the project and to encourage them to use the facilities.

A 3-month eLiteracy campaign was the foundation on which the state sought to bridge the digital divide in the state. The underlying objective of the campaign was to remove the "fear of the unknown" that common people have about technology in general and computers in particular. To this end, articles were published about the need for the programme by eminent personalities in leading dailies and other publications; advertisements were included in both print and electronic media; brochures and postures highlighted the benefits of IT; and road shows, seminars, discussions, and exhibitions were held.

This campaign was designed to create interest in training as part of the goal of imparting basic/functional eLiteracy to one member of each of the families in the state. Selection of the member to be trained is determined by the family members, but the preferred age range is 20-30 years. Those trained as part of this campaign are expected to act as a catalyst to mobilise and teach relatives and fellow citizens; the course content is designed with this role in mind. The sessions are conducted by entrepreneurs, who are motivated by an incentive of Rs. 20,000 if they train 100% of citizens allocated to them within a specified time. These sessions emphasise the potential associated with learning to use technology and not technology itself. After completing the initial training, participants are grouped into different categories such as students, housewives, and professionals, who are then invited to undergo need-based trainings at the respective centres. This continued e-learning programme is designed to help the beneficiaries attain knowledge and practical skills in specific areas of relevance to their lives.

Once e-literacy has been increased, the next step is to make facilities available to citizens in the sense of creating a useful learning experience through content. The Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT) has developed and supplied a IT literacy CD that is based on cultural and linguistic customisation and creativity. The CD is designed as a 10-lesson IT tutor that features games with Kerala ambience. This approach is designed to help the learner easily and enjoyably pick up the psychomotor skills required for mouse and keyboard operation. In addition to customised software like Chithravidya, Ganithavidya, and Aksharavidya, a browser called WebDarshini is designed to garner access to the Internet on the part of Malayalee community members who do not speak English. The Kerala button in the WebDarshini brings up Kerala directory, giving preference to Malayalam content websites. There is also a Janakeeya email facility in the browser.

Technology, Economic Development.

Kerala has some of the highest quality of life indices in India. It also has the highest levels of literacy in the country. The project has been designed to leverage Kerala's strengths, including active community organisations, a progressive social framework, an advanced telecom infrastructure, and wide-spread media penetration.

Organisers explain that the project has been shaped based on past successes, such as the 'Saksharata' campaign, which resulted in a 100% literate state in a short period of time. The project has also drawn on the experiences of projects such as Gyandoot that have been attempted in India and abroad.

From April to early September 2003, a total of 578 centres were certified; approximately 94% of them have 5 or 6 personal computers (PCs). Over half of the entrepreneurs have been trained in computers or were educated in engineering. 54 entrepreneurs (about 9% of them) operate Akshaya centres from their own premises. 11.7% of the entrepreneurs are women.