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Sreekantapuram declared e-literate

Staff Reporter

KANNUR: Sreekantapuram grama panchayat has been declared fully e-literate under the `Akshaya e-literacy programme.'

At a colourful function held at the panchayat, Sreekantapuram was declared as having achieved e-literacy by Chiyyayi, the oldest Adivasi woman from the Scheduled Caste Colony Vallyad. Chiyyayi was among those who learned computers under the e-literacy initiative. She made the declaration by pressing the keyboard of a laptop in the presence of Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy and K.C. Joseph, MLA.

Sreekantapuram is the first grama panchayat to secure the distinction in the second stage of the `Akshaya' project being implemented in seven districts in the State.

Speaking at the function, Chiyyayi said learning to operate a computer in the colony having no basic amenities including electricity was a unique experience. "The learning started with a computer game and got more interesting when classes progressed," she said. The Minister said the e-literacy achieved by the panchayat was exemplary. She, however, said that the panchayat should go beyond mere declarations. It should continue to offer opportunities to neo-e-literates to continue their learning.

Mr. Joseph presided over the function. Irikkur block panchayat president K.P. Ramani, Sreekantapuram panchayat president M.C. Haridasan and Akshaya State Director T.K. Manzoor were also present at the function. The function was preceded by a colourful procession attended by Kudumbasree members, school students and social and cultural activists, among others. The e-literacy initiative covered all the 5300 families in the panchayat.

As much as 65 per cent of the `students' were women. 142 members in nearly 100 Adivasi families in the panchayat became e-literate under the programme. The panchayat had achieved the distinction in a record time of 11 months.

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