Malappuram in India: A model for developing countries

By Akhand

N.M. Tyagaraman, an uneducated villager of undeveloped Malappuram district in south Indian state kerala, is now a computer literate and he used to operate personal computer in his shop. In the Malappuram district information technology (IT) has become a way of life for common people like tyagaraman. What is surprising that they are neither highly educated nor English speaking category. Malappuram is making history in IT education through the Akshaya project initiated by the Department of IT, Government of Kerala. The Akshaya initiative was launched in November 2002 primarily to address the need for e-literacy. The pilot project took off in Malappuram in 2004. Chamravattom in the district became the first village to achieve a cent percent computer literacy in August 2003. Other villages are emulating it.

Well structured

The specialty of this project starts from the structure itself. It ensures learning centres known asAkshaya centres very near to the every citizen. For this purpose, six hundred centres, one for every thousands family, were opened throughout the Malappuram district. The Centres are well equipped with systems like UPS, webcam, dial up internet connection and necessary CDs. The government initially spent up to Rs 4 crore to create awareness among entrepreneurs and interested parties. Malappuram received an investment of Rs 6 lakh, apart from the support of local bodies towards training operators. Further, the Kerala IT <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Mission has invested up to Rs 5 crore for software development. Each e-centres employs up to 4 people, creating about 2,400 jobs.

These Information Technology centres (ITC) is helping the citizen use them as hubs for various IT-related services. They could pay even tax , various fees and telephone and electricity bills in these ITCs. Facilities for video and audio chatting are also available here. This is an advantage for the large number of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) families in Kerala; most of them belong to the middle class or below. “ In this centre I chat with my brother in every occasion and share my feeling and give him best wishes, say Nazir Begum, whose elder brother is in the Gulf Country.

Interesting Learning:

The curriculum for the Akshaya Project is also quite simple and practical. The trainees are first exposed to a practical use of computer and its application.  There are ten lessons in the ten day training programme. Each lesson is inclusive of explanation and a game indirectly giving practice to the things to be taught. "The computer classes got well accepted," says Anvar Sadath, manager (e-governance) of the Kerala State IT Mission. "We don't tell learners that they are using a mouse or a monitor. In time, they achieve a level of comfort with the computer. We then introduce them to the infinite possibilities of the Internet," smiles Sadath who is also the director for Akshaya. On completion of 10 days’ training, the learners are capable of independently using the computer. They could write letters, send e-mails and also use internet, Sadath assures. He says, another significant aspect of the programmes’ success is the medium of teaching i.e. in Malayalam, the mother tongue of the people.

A new History:

The classes in these centres start at six in the morning and some centres opens up to twelve midnight according to the learners’ convenience. Housewives and old ladies used to attend classes during the afternoon hours, while workers and employees preferred the late evening shifts. This novel project has its impacts not only on the common man but also in the Government employees and peoples’ representative of the local bodies. In this way Malappuram is making history in IT education and is a model not only for India but also for all developing countries.