Importance and Effects of Pillars of Telecentre Sustainability with Special Reference to Akshaya Project, Kerala

Abstract

‘Akshaya’ is an initiative of the Government of Kerala, envisioned at enhancing the spread of e-literacy, among public with added focus in rural areas, through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The project was launched in November 2002. It brought to fore the enormous managerial and entrepreneurial talent that remains untapped. The moderate number of Telecentre owners who have come forward with the choice of an entrepreneurial career by starting an Akshaya Telecentre is a significant development to reckon with in the subject. The study is based on the major pillars of Telecentre sustainability identified as (a) financial (b) social (c) operational (d) policy and (e) organisational. The study analyzed Sustainability of Telecentres by using the methodology for measuring the performance of informal social microenterprise in an emerging nation. It is identified that all the five pillars have positive effect on Telecentre sustainability. The model also shows the importance of each pillar to telecentre sustainability. The highest importance is for financial sustainability followed by operational sustainability In the case of other three pillars the level of importance to telecentre sustainability is nominal.