By
Jisha Surya / ENS - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
15th October 2012 10:35 AM
Kadakkal and Perinad, two lesser known villages in Kollam district,
found a place in the IT map of the state when the previous LDF
government projected Technolodges aka Rural IT Park as one of its
ambitious projects in the IT policy 2007.
The then Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan launched Technolodges at the villages amidst fluttering confetti and huge fanfare in February 2010. Unfortunately, Technolodges could not even complete one year of operation.
With the Kerala State IT Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL) as the implementing agency, Technolodges were launched to reduce operation cost of IT and BPO companies and to create employment in rural areas. The local bodies of the respective areas had to provide the infrastructure.
However, a Technopark-based BPO company, which began operations in Kadakkal and Perinad, wound up operations within eight months citing poor infrastructure and lack of skilled labourers.
The meeting convened by Kadakkal panchayat last week decided to approach the government to get back the defunct office space, which they had given on a 91-year lease. “The office space has been remaining unused for the past two years. If given for rent, we will get `50,000 per month. We are unable to pay the loan amount for the buildings. That is why we decided to approach the government,” said Kadakkal panchayat president Latha.
Girish Babu, MD of KSITIL and CEO of Technopark, said the infrastructure provided were unsuitable to set up IT/BPO companies.
“It was difficult to market such a location which lacks stable power supply, appropriate infrastructure and ambiance,” he said.
However, he said KSITIL had succeeded in marketing the space. “The board had asked us to discontinue with the project. Now we are in talks with a software firm to set up Technologes not just at Kadakkal, Perinad, but also in Veliyam and Piravom,” he said, adding that details could be divulged later.
The government had launched the scheme to provide employment to rural youth, taking IT to small towns and to making use of unutilised government buildings.
Rural IT parks were planned in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.
The then Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan launched Technolodges at the villages amidst fluttering confetti and huge fanfare in February 2010. Unfortunately, Technolodges could not even complete one year of operation.
With the Kerala State IT Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL) as the implementing agency, Technolodges were launched to reduce operation cost of IT and BPO companies and to create employment in rural areas. The local bodies of the respective areas had to provide the infrastructure.
However, a Technopark-based BPO company, which began operations in Kadakkal and Perinad, wound up operations within eight months citing poor infrastructure and lack of skilled labourers.
The meeting convened by Kadakkal panchayat last week decided to approach the government to get back the defunct office space, which they had given on a 91-year lease. “The office space has been remaining unused for the past two years. If given for rent, we will get `50,000 per month. We are unable to pay the loan amount for the buildings. That is why we decided to approach the government,” said Kadakkal panchayat president Latha.
Girish Babu, MD of KSITIL and CEO of Technopark, said the infrastructure provided were unsuitable to set up IT/BPO companies.
“It was difficult to market such a location which lacks stable power supply, appropriate infrastructure and ambiance,” he said.
However, he said KSITIL had succeeded in marketing the space. “The board had asked us to discontinue with the project. Now we are in talks with a software firm to set up Technologes not just at Kadakkal, Perinad, but also in Veliyam and Piravom,” he said, adding that details could be divulged later.
The government had launched the scheme to provide employment to rural youth, taking IT to small towns and to making use of unutilised government buildings.
Rural IT parks were planned in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.
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