The Hindu : National : Intel chief on mission to empower farmers, youth

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Friday, Nov 03, 2006
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Intel chief on mission to empower farmers, youth

BARAMATI: Intel Chairman Craig Barrett was here on Thursday to explore how the U.S. chipmaker could help in advancing efforts to empower unemployed youth and farmers with the help of information technology.

The town in Maharashtra is known for innovative adoption of new technologies.

Intel is participating in some of these efforts under its World Ahead Programme, which seeks to expedite access to technology and education for people in the poorer nations.

Mr. Barrett's itinerary included a meeting with teachers and students from a local school that is implementing new technology-driven learning tools, interaction with doctors at a community hospital and a visit to a kiosk offering local people the use of an Intel-designed computer, the company said in a statement.

He also planned to visit a farmer's house to see how information technology has helped transform the lives of his family members, the statement said.

On Thursday, Mr. Barrett would travel to New Delhi, where he would spend another day meeting Government and business leaders. Intel plans to invest $1.1 billion over a five-year period ending in 2010 to expand its operations in India and invest in local technology companies.

Cheap computers

Earlier this year, the company said it was successful in working with local manufacturers to bring out cheaper computers for the rural poor. India has one of the world's fastest-growing economies and is becoming a global technology hub, but vast parts of the country still languish in poverty.

India's cheapest desktops currently cost nearly 10,000 rupees ($225; euro176). But these could still seem prohibitively expensive for millions in Indian villages whose annual income is equivalent to that amount. — AP

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