The Akshaya pilot project was launched in November 2002 in Trivandrum, India by the President to bridge the digital divide. The Kerala State Information Technology Mission conceived of Akshaya as a landmark ICT project to bring the benefits of information and communication technology to the entire population of the state. Akshaya e-centres were established as public-private ventures at the local level to encourage social inclusion and provide entrepreneurial opportunities for young people, with the goal of having entrepreneurs run the centers and deliver services to benefit local communities.

1. The Akshaya pilot project was launched at
Trivandrum by Dr. A.P. Abdul Kalam, His
Excellency, the President of India on November
18, 2002.

2. Akshaya was conceived as a landmark
ICT project by the Kerala State
Information Technology Mission(KSITM)
to bridge the digital divide and to bring
the benefits of ICT to the entire
population of the State.

3.  The Akshaya e-centres would encourage social
inclusion of hitherto hereby marginalized
communities and under-privileged sections of
the rural society.
 Akshaya e-centre has been conceived as a
public private venture at the grassroot level.
The entrepreneurial experience gained by the
young persons of society by setting up e-
centres will have a far-reaching impact on our
social mind set.

4.  The entrepreneurs through Akshaya should,
act as a service delivery point, where he
delivers services through which the
population of the respective area benefits.
 Sales and promotion: The entrepreneurs
should be actively involved in sales process of
the given products and services and devise
innovative methods for attracting more and
more customers.

5.  Entrepreneurs from the locality with service orientation were to be selected, on the
social entrepreneurship model for running the centres.
 At least one person from every family was to be given training for ten days. It was
planned that the local bodies should fund this e-literacy initiative Rs. 140 was fixed
as tuition fee for 15 hour training programme (Grama Panchayat Rs. 80, Block
Panchayat Rs. 20, Dist. Panchayat Rs. 20, beneficiary fee Rs. 20) Strategies were
evolved for the involvement of community, civil society organisations, youth and
welfare organisations, local bodies, etc for implementation.
 Positioning Social Animators for linking Akshaya centres, citizens, local bodies and
government

6. Thanks