Hassan Cheruppa Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – The southern Indian state of Kerala has achieved world standard in e-governance, according to Minister of Industries and Information Technology P.K. Kunhalikutti. “We are presenting ‘Kerala Brand' in front of the world on how to achieve e-literacy among the rural folk within a short span of time. Through the government's pet project, called the ‘Akshaya,' people in each village can now enjoy all the government services for which earlier they had to approach the government's district headquarters or state secretariat in the capital,” he said on Sunday while addressing a Meet the Press program organized by the JeddahIndian Media Forum (JIMF). "Akshaya," piloted in Malappuram in 2002, was the first district-wide E-literacy project in India, and it made Malappurm India's first E-literate district and Kerala the first E-literate state. In Malappuram alone, "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 six months. "Akshaya" is now one of the largest known Internet Protocol (IP) based wireless networks in the world. While recalling his Chinese visit, Kunhalikutti called on expatriates to make China a model for development.
“When I visited China together with a Communist leader several years ago, I found its face of poverty. Through small and medium enterprises, China made a revolution in manufacturing sector and dominated the global market with its products,” he said, highlighting that Chinese nationals working abroad played a major role in achieving this success. Kunhalikutti, who is also leader of the Muslim League parliamentary party and the most powerful member in the Kerala Cabinet, said the government will give all support to the Gulf returnees to start meaningful and viable businesses. “We are offering schemes that guarantee security for investments of expatriates. The government will also support returnees if they start joint projects and businesses in the pattern of their businesses in the Gulf,” he said. The minister also offered promises such as protected areas for investment, single point clearance and export zones. Kunhalikutti drew attention to the high demand for new generation types of industries. “Investors are waiting for opportunities in major sectors, especially education and healthcare, to pump their investments.” Kunhalikutti invited Saudi businessmen to invest in Kerala. “We are ready to discuss with the Saudi business community and conduct road shows in Kerala in this regard,” he said. JIMF President Sulfeekar Othai welcomed the gathering while Secretary C.K. Shakir gave the vote of thanks.
