The formal signing of the MoUs with respective grama panchayats by selected entrepreneurs as part of the ongoing ‘Akshaya’ IT campaign was done at a function here, at the end of a three-day ‘computer mela.’

Senior Indian Union Muslim League leader Panakkad Syed Muhammedali Shihab Thangal released the CD of the computer literacy programme, prepared by C-DIT for imparting 15-hour training to at least one each from the 5-lakh-odd families of the district, as part of the campaign by the Kerala State IT Mission.

The publicity campaign was launched by leader of the opposition in the Kerala state assembly V S Achuthanandan who cautioned against the state falling into the trap of Microsoft’s monopoly. District panchayat president M Ummer signed the first MoU.

Kerala Industries and IT Minister P K Kunhalikutty, other political leaders and experts in the field also witnessed the landmark ceremony. The 600 Akshaya centres are expected to create about 35,000 job opportunities to the youth in the district, besides netting in the latest benefits of the IT sector to the rural folks and the unemployed.

Akshaya, the ambitious project titled, was launched by Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam in November 2002. The project entered a decisive phase with about 600 entrepreneurs joining the campaign.