• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Vinson Kurian

The Government-run public utilities failed because of inept management styles. In the Akshaya model, however, the private entrepreneur has been given the responsibility to run the service.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, June 15

THE sustainability of the Akshaya `Bridge the Digital Divide' project in the State is assured if the positive aspects of the renowned Kerala development model are emulated by the private entrepreneur who does not fear to take risks.

According to the prime movers in the Kerala State IT Mission, the official implementing agency, Akshaya draws heavily on the time-tested model of having schools, primary health centres, knowledge centres (public reading rooms) and other public utilities within a few kilometres of each other for effective service delivery.

This unique developmental paradigm put into practice by farsighted administrators of yore helped the State achieve enviable physical quality of life index.

Explaining the concept in the presence of the visiting Prof Kenneth Keniston, Director-Indian Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Mr G.R. Kiran, Mission Coordinator, IT Mission, told Business Line that this is sought to be replicated in Akshaya, and has already been implemented in the pilot project in Malappuram district.

Akshaya e-kiosks have been planned in such a manner that any household in the State would not have to look farther than a distance of two km for access to e-services. A number of mass information and communications technology (ICT) models experimented elsewhere in the country have failed to take off merely due to lack of adequate numbers of service centres.

The Government-run public utilities failed because of inept management styles. In the Akshaya model, however, the private entrepreneur has been given the responsibility to run the service, with the Government ready to extend infrastructural support, including content.

The sustainability of the Akshaya centres is ensured at least theoretically to the extent that the entrepreneur runs it for a profit for which he has a ready business model. Unlike in the case of a Government-run project, the entrepreneur is free to be innovative and to implement his ideas depending on the local needs.

Asked if he has come across any comparable model anywhere, Prof Keniston said the ITC Group's e-choupal kiosks were the first ones that came to his mind.

"At least, this is the only commercial model that I can think of in India. It's a great disintermediation effort in which farmers are benefited and in which the system pays for itself. But this is operationally and functionally different from the Akshaya model and is handicapped in that it seeks to address the needs of an already rich and well-established rural farmer," he added.

There is another angle to it. Malappuram district is known for the large number of expatriates working in the Gulf, among other locations abroad. The Akshaya centres will go a long way in helping the women communicate instantaneously and in a cost-effective manner with their menfolk employed overseas.

Out of the five lakh families in Malappuram district, as many as 4.5 lakh have somebody working in the Gulf.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Exult bullish on India

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line