Monday, Apr 22, 2002
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Tamil Nadu
By S. Vijay Kumar
A 70-year-old man in Pathinettangudi, mailing a photograph of his eyes to the Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, through Webcam for consultation.
Similar is the communication technology spread in at least 30 other villages around Pathinettangudi, paving the way for the caste-conscious Melur to become the first cyber taluk in the country— courtesy the Sustainable Access in Rural Internet (SARI) project. Villagers no longer run from pillar to post to get caste, birth and death certificates here. They simply download the application online and forward it through e-mail to the tahsildhar. The acknowledgement is received within hours and the certificate issued in a week. ``Earlier, we had to shell out at least Rs. 250 to get an income certificate or old age pension. Now, the cost is only Rs. 29, which includes a printout of the e-mail acknowledgement from the tahsildhar,'' says 70-year-old Mondi of Pathinettangudi. `Public Access Internet Kiosks' have been established in 30 villages under the SARI project in association with the ``n-logue''. This government-public-private-institution partnership programme also involves the IIT Chennai, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Harvard University. Even as a good number of youth in Melur taluk are employed in the Middle East, their dear ones are no longer scared of ISD bills. It's just Rs. 25 an hour to see their wards live on screen through the interactive webcam. This, of course, besides the voice mail, chatting and e-mail. That is not all. The agricultural labourers get their queries clarified online as well, thanks to the Madurai Agriculture College and the Research Institute of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University which is providing free counselling. The villagers also get close-up colour pictures of their eyes examined by specialists in the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai and fix up appointments for surgeries. ``We are planning to provide online train, air and bus ticket booking. A free consultancy on veterinary sciences is also on the anvil,'' says S. Prem Anand, deputy manager of the ``n-logue'', who has been doing background work based at Melur for nearly two years now. The man behind this achievement is Ashok Jhunjhunwala of the IIT Chennai, who developed the Wireless and Local Loop (WLL)-based Chordless Digitally Enhanced Telephony, says Mr. Anand. The constant support and review of the SARI project by the Collector, S. Ramachandran, instils confidence in the villagers. The technology provides highspeed Internet wireless access to more than 1,000 systems within a radius of 25 km radius. The kiosks have been established by individuals who took the risk of investing Rs. 50,000 in computer and multi-media and other accessories. Now the owners, who have installed the user-friendly Tamil softwares `Padhami', `Padhakkam' and `Minnal', make an average income of Rs. 2,500 a month and the patronage is growing steadily. As of now, a chunk of villagers in these 30 villages have e-mail identities, which they use for seeking assistance from the Government under various schemes. The SARI project has evoked excellent response from the Government and the public.
The technology is expected to take root all over the State soon, claim officials.
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