Newsletter:October2009
From IIITM-k-wiki
kindly place content here for October 2009 edition of newsletter or e-mail: newsletter@iiitmk.ac.in -due on 24 Sept., 2009
Contents |
KISSAN Kerala Project bags National Award “e-India 2009: Best ICT enabled Agriculture Initiative of the Year"
Kissan Kerala, the leading citizen centric e-governance project of the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala bagged National Award “e-India 2009” for the best "ICT Enabled Agricultural Initiative of the Year". The award was jointly constituted and organized by CSDMS, Department of Information Technology, Govt. of India and National E-Governance Plan.
KISSAN-Kerala, an integrated, multi-modal agricultural information system, has conceptualized, implemented and managed by Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala (IIITM-K) for the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala.
Kissan Kerala has selected for its successful integration of various technologies like Television, Internet, Telephone and mobile/SMS for delivering useful agricultural services and information to the farming community across Kerala. This award was selected through dual process of online public voting system and final Jury. This is the only project from the Kerala State selected for this national award.
The award was received by sri. R. Ajith Kumar, Chief project Coordinator of KISSAN Kerala (IIITM-K) along with Dr. Rathan Khelkar IAS, Director Kerala State IT Mission and Prof. K.R. Srivathsan, Former Director, IIITM-K during the Award Gala held on 26th August 2009 at International Convention Centre, Hyderabad.
KISSAN is an unique, integrated, Agricultural information system providing several dynamic and useful information and advisory services for the farming community during the last 6 years. It is one of the leading citizen-centric e-governance projects of the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala. The dynamic portal based advisory services (www.kissankerala.net) have become a major hit in the state. The krishideepam, the leading agricultural based television program through Asianet has completed the 300th weekly episodes during the last 6 years. The project has also launched the countries first branded online video channel for Agriculture in collaboration with Google YouTube.(www.youtube.com/kissankerala). The project also offers telephonic and mobile/SMS based agri advisory and information services. During the last 6 years of its operation, The project has made significant impact on the farming community. During the year 2008, the project bagged the South Asian Manthan Award for its best digital content.
ADMISSION ANNOUNCEMENT 2009-10
(Degree awarded by Cochin University of Science & Technology)
- 1: Master of Science in Information Technology
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any branch of Engineering /Technology or Master’s Degree in Computer Science / Applications (MCA) with first class or equivalent No. of seats – 60 Duration – Two years
- 2: M.Phil. in Ecological Informatics
Eligibility: M.Sc in Natural / Physical Science with first class or equivalent No. of seats – 10 Duration – One year
SCHOLARSHIP: Department of IT, Government of Kerala offers merit scholarships to students belonging to Kerala State under the SPEED IT programme as per rules. The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment/Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India offers scholarships for 10 SC and 5 ST students.
IIITM-K has proven track record of placing its students in leading organizations Last date for submitting the applications: 20-10-2009
For details and to apply online http://www.iiitmk.ac.in/admission
Admission help line: 09497852120 Email:admission@iiitmk.ac.in
UK visit
Dr. Elizabeth Sherly, Director, made a short visit to University of York, UK under the exchange of personnel - EURECA project. During the visit, she had taken a seminar at the Dept of Computer Science on “Fractal Neural Network” which was well appreciated. The meeting with Dr. Jim Austin, Head of neuro computing, lead to the possibility of collaboration work on CARMEN project, which provides a virtual laboratory for neuro physiology lead by 11 UK universities in collaboration with other academic and commercial partners. Also discussed with Dr. Suresh Manandhar about the research work in brining a common framework of morphology and semantics of language technology which can suit any language.
Kissan Completes 300th weekly episodes of Krishideepam Television program
Kissan Krishideepam, an informative television program, produced by Kissan Kerala Project has completed the production and telecast of 300th weekly episode through Asianet,the leading satellite channel in Kerala on 18h September 2009. It has become a major milestone of the project. The first episode was aired on 1st November 2003 and the project has now completed 6th years of its continuous service. The program has acclaimed wide viewership rating across the country. The program telecast on every friday at 5.30 PM and reaches to more than 40 lakh regular viewers across 66 countries. Considering the high demand from the farming community, now the program offers two repeat telecasts also.
Krishideepam is the first such initiative in the country, where a state Government has started an agricultural based television program through a Commercial Satellite Channel for the benefit of farming community. Also, this is the only agricultural program produced under the supervision of qualified agricultural subject experts and brings high level of authenticity. The entire program production has been done in-house at kissan Digital Studio at IIITM-K.
Invited Talks
Mr. R. Ajith Kumar, Chief Coordinator, delivered an invited talk on Kissan Kerala : The Multi modal Agricultural Information System " during the national Workshop on "ICT in Agriculture", Organised by National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) on 25th August 2009 at NIRD, Hyderabad. He also chaired a session on "Alternative ICT models - To meet the unmet need of Indian farmers"
Mr. R. Ajith Kumar. Delivered an invited talk on Kissan Kerala during the e-india 2009 conference held on 27th August 2009 at International Convention Centre, Hyderabad. Being the award winning project of e-india 2009, the project has got high level of attention and interest during the conference.
Post Graduate Diploma in e-Governance
Government of Kerala accorded the sanction of 15 candidates from various departments for undergoing the one-year full time Post Graduate Diploma in e-Governance programme jointly conducted by IIITM-K and IMG. The classes for the programme commenced on September 16, 2009.
