Moideen's Got Mail

Even before the advent of Akshaya, Malappuram had 50,000 computer literates. Numerous internet cafes could be found beside the old chai-beedi shops. But with the dotcom bust, many of the cafes too shut shop. That's when local politicians approached Muslim League (IUML) leader and industry minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, who sent them to the state IT mission director. The e-literacy drive was the result of a brainstorming session, convened in response to the grassroots-level compulsion of saving 500-odd entrepreneurs and their employees.

And it's not that the Akshaya programme has only helped the young. Old-timers too have benefited. Moideen Haji, 73, is among the successful learners. "At this age too, I have uses for the computer. Three of my sons are engineers. One has a flourishing house construction business, where plans require a lot of sketching. Let me see whether I can learn to draw on the PC, maybe earn my bread," he says with a gleam in his eye.

But even with all the goodwill, sceptics wonder how the project can be sustained. What will the 500-odd young entrepreneurs, each of whom have invested Rs 2-3 lakh in setting up kendras, do when the drive concludes? Well, many of them have already branched off into selling IT-enabled services. The IT mission has also tied up with LIC, ICICI and other financial institutions to use their services.

To this end, a number of business models have evolved in Malappuram. The setting up of an Akshaya hardware park with 105 entrepreneurs selling branded hardware is one plan. There is also an understanding for an Akshaya-Intel co-branding of products. Says district coordinator, IT mission, M.S. Vinod: "The arrangement with LIC is in place. Akshaya staff members are already working as insurance agents. Soon they will take over as franchisees of loan and money transaction firms. We are talking to Western Union Money Transfer too. Akshaya will tap every available opportunity in the service sector, even travel and tourism."

Whatever the critics say, for the people here the benefits of being PC-savvy have been too many to count. Business, many believe, is just a click away. And it didn't cost anything. Just Rs 20 to get hooked on to those fabled infobahns.