Sir CV Raman’s ancestral village to go digital

The initiative comes from Chennai-based Microsense, which is setting up internet hotzones in two villages, that currently do not have any internet access either through mobile or BSNL network.  Microsense is deploying Wi-Fi Hotzones with internet access on June 20, coinciding with world Wi-Fi day, as a tribute to India’s Nobel Laureates, Sir  CV Raman and Dr S Chandrasekhar, whose families hailed from Thanjavur. 

The services, to be offered by Microsense at its own cost, come to the 4000 villagers absolutely free. Located about 21 Km from Thanjavur, the villages have electricity and BSNL phone connections. However, internet or broadband are not available till date. Mobile phones do not offer data services. Microsense’s community initiative hopes to bridge this digital divide.  

Most of the 1000 families here own simple smartphones and when Wi-Fi Hotzones go live on the World Wi-Fi Day, Microsense Managing Director S Kailasanathan hoped that they would all be able to connect to the world outside by accessing free internet. Kailasanathan, who went to IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta has built Microsense as an innovative provider of internet and WiFi solutions. 

As part of its giving-back-to- society initiative, the Chennai based firm will donate laptop computers to the government aided school in Agaramangudi village that offers education up to Class 6 for the students and a desktop as a common resource for use by the villagers (also to be located in the village school).