Tamil Nadu Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, on Tuesday, August 8, visited the neighbouring state of Kerala to study the ambitious Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON) project of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. The project, which aims at providing free internet connections to all the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in the state, was launched in February this year. A delegation from the Tamil Nadu FibreNet Corporation Limited (TANFINET) project and state the IT department visited Kerala and held discussions about the project. The delegation was also present at the Kerala state assembly on Tuesday.
Speaking about the project, Minister PTR said, “I led a delegation of Officials from the TANFINET project and the IT Department to Kerala to learn from their experience in implementing KFON, Kerala’s Fibre Optic Network. Grateful to the Hon CM @pinarayivijayan and Govt of Kerala, as well as all the officials of the IT Dept and KFON – especially former TN Cadre IAS Officer Dr Santosh Babu who heads the effort – for their kind hospitality and transparent presentations. We need to learn from each other as we strive to get maximum efficiency and equitable access to all citizens.”
I led a delegation of Officials from the TANFINET project and the IT Department to Kerala to learn from their experience in implementing KFON, Kerala’s Fibre Optic Network. Grateful to the Hon CM @pinarayivijayan and Govt of Kerala, as well as all the officials of the IT Dept and… pic.twitter.com/1zNsyVc9Zk
— Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) August 9, 2023
Kerala CM Pinarayi said that the discussion would lead to obviating the digital divide that currently exists. “Delighted to meet Tamil Nadu IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan today. Had a productive discussion about the innovative K-FON project aimed at obviating the digital divide. Our states collaborate for progress and people's welfare.”
Delighted to meet Tamil Nadu IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan today. Had a productive discussion about the innovative K-FON project aimed at obviating the digital divide. Our states collaborate for progress and people's welfare. @ptrmadurai pic.twitter.com/o3Hmtuc4VS
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) August 8, 2023
The KFON project was announced in May 2020, and was launched in 2023 to provide quality internet free of cost to the poor and at affordable rates to others. CM Pinarayi had said that around 20 lakh people will benefit through the project. The state cabinet had approved Rs 1548 crore KFON project to provide internet to every household in the state. In 2016, the United Nations declared internet access a human right, and in November 2019, access to the internet was made a basic right in the state.
