Update from Country (India) Microsoft to roll out 50,000 kiosks, unveils rural IT initiative 'Saksham’

(India) Microsoft to roll out 50,000 kiosks, unveils rural IT initiative 'Saksham’. The Hindu Business Line. April 2006. Software major Microsoft Corporation India has announced its rural IT initiative `Saksham' under which the company would partner with non-governmental agencies … to roll out 50,000 kiosks over the next three years. These IT kiosks will provide information and services related to health, education, communication and agriculture, besides Government-to-citizen services, including land records. The company will also develop a rural portal powered with content and applications aimed at rural segment … The initiative is expected to provide local entrepreneurs opportunities to set up and manage kiosks on a self-sustaining basis and provide content and services to the rural community. The software major will provide technical support and training to the local youth, who would manage these kiosks. The operators can charge a fee for various services and generate revenues to pay back their loans to the bank.