Brief

Intel-MAFCOCS sign MoU to create IT awareness

The Maharashtra State Federation Co-operative Credit Societies (MAFCOCS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Intel Technology India as per which both the organisations will jointly campaign to increase awareness on IT adoption and deployment of solutions to benefit the spread of 80,000 co-operative credit societies catering to about 30 million people across the country. Further, Intel will help MAFCOCS set up a data centre in Pune. Rs 600 crore will be invested in the implementation.

Intel will aid MAFCOCS in various aspects including the selection process and deployment framework and will offer to share its experience both in the consumer premise equipment and connectivity infrastructure. Intel will support MAFCOCS in its mission to deploy the common ICT infrastructure for co-operative credit societies, while educating the state federation team on relevant and upcoming software and hardware technologies.

MAFCOCS will in turn support enabling of a co-operative credit society’s software content on Intel architecture. Under the agreement, the state federation will deploy 10,000 Intel-powered Community PCs for meeting the rural needs of credit societies like transfer of money and buying and selling of commodities during the next one year as part of the first phase which will begin next month and will cover 3,000 credit societies in Maharashtra.

The Community PCs have special filters for protection from dust and a facility to use a car battery in case there is a power outage. Intel will deploy Community PCs in three phases and plans to complete the deployment by 2009. “Our association with Intel will ensure these societies get access to affordable and advanced technology,” said Lalit Gandhi, Chairman, MAFCOCS.

Amar Babu, MD, Sales and Marketing, Intel (South Asia) said, “We recognise the challenges of community development and believe that technology and information will empower the people of India.”

He added, “Intel understands the impact of research and innovation required to address the socio-economic situations prevalent in rural communities in India. This association with MAFCOCS to deploy the Community PC will strengthen Intel’s initiatives in allowing technology to empower the community.”

—Vinita Gupta