Kerala’s first Technolodge launched

KOLLAM, INDIA: Kerala’s first Technolodge at Kadakkal, Kollam has been launched by Minister for Labour and Excise, Shri P K Gurudasan. The objective of Technolodge initiative is to create low cost alternative locations for BPO companies while tapping into the rural employable and infrastructural advantage, said a press release.

Inaugurating the Technolodge, Gurudsasan said, “The Technolodge initiative is the result of Kerala Government’s ambitious vision to take software exports business to small towns and villages and encourage BPO companies to operate from low cost rural centers and thereby create employment in rural areas. Today this has seen fruition in Kadakkal and Perinad and very soon in more centers across the State.”

Kerala State IT Infrastructure (KSITI) Ltd has implemented this project while the Government has a plan of establishing around 100 Technolodges across the State and over 60 Panchayats have come forward offering facilities to set up Technolodges, the release said.

KSITIL has requested Technopark, an IT park in Thiruvananthapuram, to undertake this work on behalf of them. Technopark on undertaking the responsibility of setting up the pilot Technolodge made this project a reality within a short span of 4 months. The State Government has invested Rs. 18.5 lakhs at Kadakkal while the investment for Perinad is Rs.27.4 lakhs towards refurbishing the buildings. This includes the cost of 50KWA Genset costing approximately Rs. 3 Lakhs each. Both the Technolodges have common facilities like discussion rooms, pantry space, wash area, reception, etc.

“Many IT companies in Kerala have already shown interest in the upcoming Technolodges as this initiative will provide local talent and infrastructure facilities and provide lower cost opportunities” said Dr. Ajay Kumar, IT Secretary, Government of Kerala during his inaugural speech.

Mervin Alexander, Director, Kerala State IT Infrastructure & CEO, Technopark in his report on Technolodge highlighted a recent survey study that indicated that more than 50 per cent of professionals working in the IT Sector in Kerala belong to the rural areas and also more than 40 per cent of them had their education in Malayalam medium. Employment closer to home through Technolodges will also help in social harmony as employees by virtue of being closer to home can take care of their parents and children better.

The first two Technolodges ready in Kadackal Panchayath (2500 sq ft) and Perinad Panchayath (2750 sq ft) in Kollam District, have been fully taken over by Technopark-based Accentia Technologies Ltd, a provider of end-to-end Business Process Management (BPM) solutions for Healthcare, Financial and Insurance Sectors.

The total seating capacity at Kadakkal facility is for 54 persons and at Perinad is 78. The company has plans to employ 250 professionals in the Kadakkal facility and 300 professionals in Perinad to work across three shifts from the nearby places to meet their growing business demands worldwide using local talent pool, the release added.