November 18, 2010 to be celebrated as Akshaya Day

November 18, 2010 to be celebrated as Akshaya Day

Akshaya Janasevana Pracharna Yathra organized from Kasargode to Trivandrum to spread awareness on the Akshaya activities

Trivandrum, November 8, 2010 – Kerala IT department’s ‘Akshaya’ initiative today announced that November 18, 2010 will be commemorated as Akshaya Day. This was announced at a press conference called by Korath V Mathew, Director – Akshaya. As part of the celebrations, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri. V S Achuthanandan on November 9, 2010 will flag off the ‘Akshaya Janasevana Pracharana Yathra’ through a video-conference.

Akshaya Janasevana Pracharna Yathra is planned as an initiative to spread awareness of the Akshaya Citizen Service centres across the state and the services offered by them for citizens. The Yathra will start its journey from Kasargode Collectorate Compound and traverse all the 14 districts, stopping at various places spreading awareness on Akshaya and its services through street plays, distributing literature detailing Akshaya’s various services. It will also stop at all the District headquarters for a seminar on Akshaya and its activities and will culminate at the State capital on November 18, 2010.

“Akshaya, an innovative project of KSITM launched in 2002 with the aim to bridge the digital divide through e-literacy, today has grown manifold to become an ICT initiative that brings the benefits of technology to the entire population of the State.” Said Korath V Mathew. “The vehicle traveling across the State will showcase the different services offered by Akshaya and how the e-world is transforming and ensuring all the citizen services offered by the Government is reaching to the grass root level.”

“Akshaya today is bringing in a lot of Government to Citizen (G2C) services to the grass root level in Kerala. With over 2000 Citizen Service Centres (CSCs), Akshaya is playing a key role in rural empowerment and economic development and is a catalyst in creating economic growth by creation of direct and indirect employment in the State by focusing on various activities of e-governance, e-learning, e-transactions, etc. Through this Yathra we aim to inform all the citizens about the services they will get from an Akshaya Centre near their house and urge them to avail the benefits of an Akshaya centre.” Said Korath V Mathew.

Special stalls will be set up in each district headquarters when the Yathra reaches the respective district for citizens to attend and understand the various services offered by Akshaya centres. The stalls will offer Akshaya services such as e-Payment, e-Filing, online application of Ration Cards, Registration of BPL families under Health Insurance, collection of subscription amount for NRK welfare fund, etc.

“On November 18, 2010 when the Yathra culminates in Trivandrum, we have a seminar showcasing Akshaya’s activities, future challenges and a presentation by our clients (other government departments). The celebrations will culminate with an awards ceremony for Akshaya entrepreneurs to recognize their contribution in the success of Akshaya.” Added Korath V Mathew.

At the flagging off ceremony, the presidential address will be delivered by Shri. C T Ahmed Ali, MLA and the felicitations will be delivered by Kasargode District Collector Shri. Anand Singh IAS, at the venue. The other dignitaries expected to be present at the venue are Shri. K Kunjiraman MLA, Shri. K V Kunjiraman, MLA, Shri. Pallipram Balam MLA, Shri H Kunjambu, MLA and Principal Secretary for IT Dr. Ajay Kumar. The inaugural ceremony of flagging off the Akshaya Janasevana Prajarana Yathra from Kasargode will be done through the video conference facility of IT@School from Thiruvananthapuram.

Akshaya Service Delivery Manager, Mr. K S Ramesh Kumar and Assistant District Coordinator for Kollam, Mr. Regi Thomlal as participated in the press conference.

About Akshaya

Akshaya is a landmark ICT project by the Kerala State Information Technology Mission to bring the benefits of this technology to the entire population of the State. It is instrumental in rural empowerment and economic development. It has opened over 2000 Citizen Service Centres across the State with at least two centres (e-Kendra) in every village Panchayat. Each e-kendra, set up within 2-3 kilometres of every household cater to the requirements of around 1000-3000 families to make available the power of networking and connectivity to common man. The project is a catalyst in creating massive economic growth and creation of direct and indirect employment in the State by focusing on the various facts of e-learning, e-transaction, e-governance etc.

Some of the services provided by Akshaya are:

· eLiteracy programmes

· Citizen Services

· Educational programmes

· e-Krishi

· Service and Payroll Administrative Repository of Kerala (SPARK)

· Online application of Ration Card

· Registration of BPL families under Health Insurance

· Unique Identification Number

· Collection of Yearly subscription of NRK Welfare Fund

· E-Grantz for SC/ST