Kathmandu, January 8:

The National Information Technology Centre (NITC) and Forum for Information and Technology (FIT) have established 10 school telecentres in 10 districts with assistance of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

KOICA representatives today handed over the equipment for the telecentres established in Kavre, Bhaktapur, Dhading, Lalitpur, Palpa, Makwanpur, Jhapa, Siraha, Morang and Nuwakot were today handed over to Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Man Bahadur Biswokarma.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony Minister Biswokarma said: “This endeavour will help empower people by providing the access to information technology (IT) to people.” He said the government is ready to provide any sort of help for the promotion of IT.

PH Kim from the KOICA said the Korean government will always support the development of information, communication and technology (ICT) in Nepal, if this project becomes successful.

“General people and students from rural areas will be integrated to the circle of IT users to reduce the digital divide between the city dwellers and rural people,” said Allen Bailochan Tuladhar, president of the FIT.

The telecentres will help make Internet accessible to the people who do not have electricity in their areas,” Tuladhar told this daily.

“The telecentres will be beneficial to farmers as well because the centres will also be used to disseminate information on new farming technologies. In addition, the centres will also produce community radio programmes addressing local social issues,” he said.