K-FON: A leap into the future
Kerala has achieved the distinction of being the first state in India to have its own internet system. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the K-FON project to the nation as a step towards a knowledge economy. K-FON Project is Kerala's popular alternative to using technology for comprehensive social progress. The biggest benefit of the project is that it will help to bridge the gap and provide digital equality. In the first phase, 14,000 households and 30,000 government institutions will be able to use the Internet network. When the project is fully implemented, 20 lakh families and government offices will get free K-FON service. Apart from this, free Wi-Fi spots in 2000 public places will also be open. The project also includes the provision of commercial connections at ration shops, 2000 SupplyCo outlets, and Kerala Bank.
Children in urban areas do not have to struggle for a signal range to attend classes and take lessons through YouTube and online media, but in remote villages, tribal areas, etc., children are becoming victims of the digital divide. It is no small matter that the K-FON project can provide a permanent solution to this. Kerala is a state that already provides about 800 government services online. There is no doubt that with the implementation of the K-FON project, the number of such services will increase. One of the biggest promises made by K-FON is a common website for all government services. This scheme will be very beneficial for small and medium entrepreneurs as well. The benefit to the student body through the K-FON program is that the opportunities for higher learning will increase tenfold. It will be very useful for job seekers and disaster relief operations as well.
By making K-FON available in the ration shops in the state, it is also expected that the technical problems in the ePOS machines will be solved. The K-FON project will pave the way for entire Kerala to be transformed into a knowledge society in the future. This creates a situation for a simultaneous boom in various fields. May this project become a model for all of India in the future.