Dear Friends,
Can anyone please provide some help on the following topic.?
This is regarding the "Akshaya" (www.akshaya.net) project being implemented by State Govt of Kerala. The pilot project was kicked-off in May 2003 in Malappuram District, with the launching of over 600 Akshaya e-kendras.
Now it is being implemented at other districts of the state and at Kannur, the process is currently going on.
I am also a candidate to start one centre in My Panchayat. I wanted to get valuable feedback/opinions/suggestions from others. As self-employment for many, it involves huge investment and many are dependent on bank loans( At least I am)!! .Proper help from others will be valuable guidance.
1) My plan is to set up Akshaya e -kendra using only GNU/Linux and free/open source softwares. The website of akshaya says the infrastructure should have minimum five PCs in a client server configuration. So I plan to setup a LTSP based diskless thin client configuration. I wanted to promote this and provide support to others setting up LTSP based Akshaya centers. I have few queries in this regard.
1) Does anyone( especially anyone from Malappuram) have experience with Akshaya at Malappuram. If so is to possible to share their experience?. 2) Did any one used GNU/Linux and free software application for setting up akshaya centers?. If so did they face any problem!!! 3) Does the CDs and other material supplied by concerned authorities work on LTSP thin client machines?. 4) Will it demand any requirement for any proprietary softwares?. 5) What is the current status of the Akshaya project at Malappuram??. I have read a news last month saying about 60% of the centers are facing closure due to lack of income generation and heavy burden on Bank loans!!.
At the site there are many success stories, but can anyone tell us about the ground reality!!!.
Any help is appreciated..
Regards
Sujeevan. Kannur
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Hi,
I am also a candidate to start one centre in My Panchayat. I wanted to get valuable feedback/opinions/suggestions from others. As self-employment for many, it involves huge investment and many are dependent on bank loans( At least I am)!! .Proper help from others will be valuable guidance.
If you are making investment make your backup plans. dont trust the project.
- Does anyone( especially anyone from Malappuram) have experience
with Akshaya at Malappuram. If so is to possible to share their experience?.
I've visited few centers.
- Did any one used GNU/Linux and free software application for
setting up akshaya centers?. If so did they face any problem!!!
No. Training programs and modules from KSITM were in Windows hence almost all of them used Windows. There were some suggestions of having training programs on free software. But i dont think they happened.
- Does the CDs and other material supplied by concerned authorities
work on LTSP thin client machines?.
I think they are flash files.
- Will it demand any requirement for any proprietary softwares?.
You have to talk to officials of Akshya project. I think they will allow use of free software. If not we will fight for it.
- What is the current status of the Akshaya project at Malappuram??.
Best thing you can do is go to Malappuram and discuss with people there. Situation is not so good. You will have to make your own business plan. Akshya will provide you some business. That wont break even your project. Dont get carried away by the hype. Do a good study and plan and then start.
Akshaya project got ArsElectronic award. I dont know what is the selection criterion. But I am not very much convinced about the claims made about the project in Ars Electronic site.
-
Arun M -
swathantra software