Over 450 rural citizens are now digitally literate within the three month launch of National Digital Literacy Mission programme (NDLM) programme in three (3) identified pilot panchayats under NOFN (National Optic Fibre Network) plan – Arian Panachayat, Ajmer (Rajasthan); Nangoan, Panisagar, (North Tripura); and Muthayalammapalem Panchayat in Pravada (Visakhapatnam).
At Arain, more than 250 rural candidates have been trained on digital literacy programme within three months since the launch of NDLM centre at Arain panchayat. The training has been conducted in three batches of size 30 candidates. The third batch completed on 13 February, 2013.
While at the second NDLM centre, Nangaon, over 120 have received training on digital literacy programme. Conducted, in two batch size of 30 candidates, third batch of the programme is presently going on and will be completed on 25 February, 2013. However, third centre was launched on the last month itself. 90 candidates are now digitally literate through NDLM centre located at Muthayalammapalem village in Pravada panchayat.
Though NOFN line has been reached at pilot regions, but accessibility and internet connectivity reaching at local administration offices, gram panchayat centres is still an issue. Nangaon, being hilly region, it is difficult for local people to reach the centre for the training programme.
It has been identified that 80% of the households want Internet connectivity in their region, thus, in order to accelerate the programme, DEF & Intel are planning to launch bunch of programmes on entertainment, education-related information and even government services.