The Information Technology Department will shortly spearhead a massive digital literacy programme to empower rural population across the State, State IT Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna said on Monday.

Participating in a programme to hand over computers and e-learning content to the underprivileged under the auspices of the Rotary Club of Madras Midtown and Ford Business Services Centre, Dr. Poongothai said the modalities of rolling out the project were being worked out with the ICT Academy of Tamil Nadu and Rotary International District 3230.

Dr. Poongothai advocated a three-way partnership among the corporate sector, Rotary International and the government to initiate universal digital literacy in Tamil Nadu.

Noting that historically, the people of Tamil Nadu had attached high importance to literacy and education, Dr. Poongothai said the State's latest Budgetary allocation of Rs.10,000 crore was almost 23 per cent of the outlay and on a par with sectoral allocations in developed countries. Currently, the State contributed to 35 per cent of the global IT workforce. The State policy was appreciative of the revolutionary potential of IT to break down barriers and bridge divides. The Tamil Nadu government had shaped several pioneering initiatives such as the formulation of an IT policy and an e-waste policy, Dr. Poongothai said. The IT Department was also looking at ways to use technology to enhance access of disabled sections to various government services.

Joginder P. Singh, president and managing director, Ford Business Services Centre, said the alliance with Rotary's digital literacy project reflected Ford's founding commitments to balance business with contributions to a better world. The donation of 150 computers to 11 partner groups would have a multiplier effect that would reach digital literacy to many more rural underprivileged.

G. Olivannan, District Governor, RI District 3230, said the digital literacy project would be rolled out across Tamil Nadu.

K. B. Sridhar, District Chairman of the Rotary project, said the 20-hour digital literacy programme involved six modules to introduce beginners to computers, Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Internet and Email. The software had been designed in Tamil to benefit rural users and a Hindi version was also being considered.

The computers and e-learning software were given to the Government Ponneri Library, Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation, Chennai, Midtown Vocational Training Centre, Billakuppam, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation for its Village Knowledge Centres, Andhra Mahila Sabha, Adyar, Women's Voluntary Service for SHGs, Centre for Empowerment of Women and NSS Department, Anna University Chennai, MCN High School, Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development and India Sudar organisation for underprivileged youth and rural communities.

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