President Pranab Mukherjee has declared Kerala as the country's first digital state. At a function in Kozhikode yesterday, Mr Mukherjee said, the progress made by Kerala over the last few decades has been commendable, and this was possible due to the combined efforts of the government and various social organizations in the state.<br/> <br/>The Akshaya Project and the IT@school projects bean in early 2000 made breakthrough changes in e-literacy in the state.<br/> <br/>The President said, the state has now over 600 e-governance applications covering almost all the departments. He said, the e-litercy campaign which extends to all the districts, will cover about three millon citizens in the age group of thirty to sixty years.<br/> <br/>Mr Mukherjee also dedicated the UL Cyber Park, the first of its kind by a co-operative society in the country. He said, the park will go a long way in positioning Kerala along with the other leading Indian states in the country in IT sector.<br/> <br/>The President also launched Kanive an extended project of Compassionate Kozhikode, an initiative by the District Administration, aims at the participation of common people in government's initiatives to extend compassion to the needy and downtrodden.<br/> <br/>Mr Mukherjee also inaugurated a Gender Park set up by the Department of social justice to encourage women to take part in developmental and decision making process. It is the first of its kind in Asia, and will work as a platform to promote studies and research on gender issues.

President Pranab Mukherjee has declared Kerala as the country's first digital state. At a function in Kozhikode yesterday, Mr Mukherjee said, the progress made by Kerala over the last few decades has been commendable, and this was possible due to the combined efforts of the government and various social organizations in the state.<br/> <br/>The Akshaya Project and the IT@school projects bean in early 2000 made breakthrough changes in e-literacy in the state.<br/> <br/>The President said, the state has now over 600 e-governance applications covering almost all the departments. He said, the e-litercy campaign which extends to all the districts, will cover about three millon citizens in the age group of thirty to sixty years.<br/> <br/>Mr Mukherjee also dedicated the UL Cyber Park, the first of its kind by a co-operative society in the country. He said, the park will go a long way in positioning Kerala along with the other leading Indian states in the country in IT sector.<br/> <br/>The President also launched Kanive an extended project of Compassionate Kozhikode, an initiative by the District Administration, aims at the participation of common people in government's initiatives to extend compassion to the needy and downtrodden.<br/> <br/>Mr Mukherjee also inaugurated a Gender Park set up by the Department of social justice to encourage women to take part in developmental and decision making process. It is the first of its kind in Asia, and will work as a platform to promote studies and research on gender issues.