MYSORE: Even as the State is making strides in the field of information technology (IT), the gap between urban and rural areas in terms of IT penetration remains wide. In an effort to take the benefits of IT to rural areas, Bank of India is launching an e-grama project in Mysore from September 10. The project will enable100 villages in Mysore district to reap the benefits of the information technology revolution in the first phase.

Joint venture

The e-grama project has been conceived by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Grameena Mahiti Parishath, while the Bank of India will fund the project. The project also coincides with the centenary celebrations of the Bank of India, which will start next month.

The IT-enabled project will not only help bridge the growing digital divide, but also increase computer literacy of those living in rural areas.

It is also expected to generate more employment opportunities in these regions and reduce migration of educated unemployed youths to cities.

According to Rangashamayya, manager of the Udayagiri branch of the bank, the project will be implemented in villages that have between 300 and 800 families. He said that unemployed youths in these villages will be given financial assistance up to Rs. 50,000 by the bank to set up cyber cafes. The preconditions include a minimum educational qualification of second PUC and initial investment of Rs. 15,000.

Membership fee

Any person in the village can become a member of the cyber café for a nominal fee of Rs. 10 a month, and the membership can be used by the member's family members as well. This will enable them to earn around Rs. 4,000 a month. The cyber cafe will be equipped with a computer, digital camera, scanner, fax, printer and a power back-up facility.

The cyber café will also help provide information to rural folks about job opportunities, valuable tips to students, information about business transactions, and medical advice. Members of the cyber cafe can also avail discounts at selected nursing homes and pathology clinics in the city, he added. The internet centres will also connect the villages to the Government, and information regarding banking, education, agriculture, health and government schemes will be provided to villagers through the e-grama project.

Good response

Mr. Rangashamayya said that Enrich, a non-governmental organisation that has executed similar projects, will implement e-grama project in the district. Enrich has already set up 33 cyber cafes in rural areas in Davangere.

Project Officer K.G. Chandrashekar told The Hindu that the project received an overwhelming response in Davangere and this has prompted the bank to extend the project to other areas. In Mysore, work on identifying the villages and entrepreneurs have begun. Training of entrepreneurs and gathering of information will be completed shortly.