Microsoft launches 'Rural Innovative Fund'

Chennai, July 29 (UNI) Microsoft India announced the launch of ''Rural Innovative Fund'' under its sustainable and self-reliant rural market initiative with the objective of creating a whole new generation of rural entrepreneurs.

Announcing this at the third annual meeting of the M S Swaminathan led ''Mission 2007: Every Village a Knowledge Centre'' here yesterday, Microsoft India Chairman Ravi Venkatesan said the fund set up in partnership with International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a Canadian development organisation, will help local software application development vendors in rural areas and small towns to create and provide localised applications and solutions to cater to the needs of rural communities.

The initial fund of two lakh US Dollar, equally contributed by the two organisations, will be used to provide financial assistance for setting up of Knowledge Centres or Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centres across rural India, he said.

Microsoft would set up at least 50,000 ICT kiosks at the grassroot level across the country over the next three years under the scheme.

National Alliance Mission 2007 Chairperson M S Swaminathan said access to information and knowledge were crucial for mobilising rural economy.

Mission 2007 had become a platform for like-minded people to contribute to the prosperity of the rural community, Dr Swaminathan claimed.

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