President Pranab Mukherjee has declared Kerala as the first digital state of the country. Now the God’s own country, that boasts of many firsts in the human development index, has pinned another feather on the cap. The president noted Kerala’s progress in becoming digitally enabled, right from the launching of a pilot Akshaya e-literacy project in Malappuram district in 2002 to now when the state revenue department alone is issuing about 30,000 digital certificates to the citizens daily.

The Akshaya project, which has since expanded all across the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India. There are currently about 2500 Akshaya centres across the length and breadth of the state, which also provide internet access and e-service delivery to the people.

The president said the growth of internet and smart-phone penetration had rapidly transformed Kerala into a knowledge-powered economy. The president also inaugurated the first IT Park in the Malabar region which is spread over of 0.5 million square feet and will provide a base to 5,000 professionals, besides creating indirect employment for over 20,000 people in the region.

Did You Know?

• Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd (KMML) is the only producer and supplier of titanium sponge in India.
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) designated Kerala the world’s first ‘Baby Friendly State’.

Want to know more about Kerala? Then Read The Unknown Facts About Kerala