‘ WE’RE BUILDING AN EMPOWERED DIGITAL SOCIETY’

Kerala has effectively used information technology in governance to ensure transparency and improve quality of services. We are working on an ambitious plan to set up the state’s own fibre optic pathway— the Kerala Fibre Optic Network ( KFON) with an estimated budget of Rs 1,028 crore to improve Internet connectivity and provide free Internet access to two million poor families by October 2018.

The Kerala State IT Infrastr uc ture Ltd and Kerala State Electricity Board ( KSEB) have jointly set up a special purpose vehicle for the project. The fibre optic pathway will be laid through KSEB’s power lines. The high broadband width will improve quality of gover nance and state services will be a click away. We have started setting up smart classrooms in every government school. Some 2,000 wi- fi hotspots will be set up across the state, from where schools, hospitals and government offices will be connected.

We believe progress depends a lot on building an empowered digital society. When the state becomes a gigabyte destination, it will kickstart a revolution in the IT sector. Our government’s vision is faster growth rates in all sectors and quality living standards for the people of Kerala. We have limited resources and many hurdles to cross. But we are banking on our strengths to meet the challenges. We are confident that we will deliver on all our goals during the tenure of this government.