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The programme aims to give at least one member from each family some 15 hours of focused training on how to use computers, access e-mail and the Internet.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov. 14

THE Kerala State IT Mission, the official implementing agency for IT in the State, will take up a mass computer literacy programme which aims to give at least one member from each family some 15 hours of focused training on how to use computers, access e-mail and the Internet.

A routine meeting of the Cabinet of the Council of Ministers has given its formal clearance for the programme, the Chief Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, told newspersons while briefing them on the proceedings of the meeting.

To be called Akshaya, the programme would be initiated on a pilot mode in Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram districts.It envisages raising the number of Internet users in the State to 20 per cent of the population.The President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, will formally launch the project at a function on November 18.

Housing loan scheme: The Chief Minister said that the State Government has entered into an arrangement with State Bank of India for providing housing loans to all Government employees.In the past, a limited number of housing loans were issued to employees at nine per cent interest.

As per the new scheme, SBI would provide the loans for which the State Government would stand guarantee.

The applicable interest rate would be nine per cent for loans up to Rs 5 lakh and 9.2 per cent for those exceeding Rs 5 lakh. The term of the loan would be 18 years.

Employees with a minimum of two years service would be eligible for loans amounting to a maximum of 60 times the basic salary.

The Cabinet has also cleared the formation of a sub-committee comprising the Ministers of Agriculture, Finance, Labour, Revenue and Electricity, to hold discussions with the managements of defunct tea and coffee plantations on ways to resume operations at the estates.

According to the Chief Minister, the Health Department is examining a police report on the controversial kidney racket. Appropriate action would be taken after the department gives its advice.

Replying to questions, Mr Antony took exception to the manner in which the leadership of the Indian Farmers' Movement (Infam) conducted a sit-in within the chamber of the Agriculture Minister demanding payment of State Government subsidy on rubber exports by the organisation.

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