Net For Life
 

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Net-For-Life’ is a nationwide campaign that is being launched by the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) on July 1, 2001. The campaign is an integral component of Tamil Internet 2001 - an international conference and exhibition that is being jointly organised by the MIC and the International Forum for Information Technology In Tamil (INFITT). Tamil Internet 2001 will be staged at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur between August 26 and 28.

Net-For-Life, when launched, will cater to three distinct groups - children, working adults and senior citizens. Several programmes will be launched within this campaign nationwide.

Among these programs are Web@8, an initiative to ensure Indian children are comfortable using the Internet by the time they are 8-years-old. It is important that this be achieved as it has been proven that children embrace the Internet faster and more naturally than adults. Young children have a lot to discover on the Net. Imagine finding all the information they want to know about pet animals, including pictures and even short movie clips, for instance. Or looking up their favourite cartoon characters. Or even listening to their favourite nursery rhymes or reading their short stories. The Web@8 programme will be implemented through selected Tamil schools. More than 10,000 children will be trained to surf the Web. Heading this Campaign is Mr Y. Sahadevan, the Senior Organiser Primary Schools, School Division, Ministry Of Education

Yet another programme, this time targeted at teenagers, is eSkills@15 - which aims to equip every 15-year-old Indian teenager with Internet development skills. Every teenager needs to have a good grip on Internet technologies. It is not enough for this group to be competent in merely surfing the web. They need to know how the Internet works. They need to know how to build webpages and even websites. There is a huge a demand across the world for such skills. Indian teenagers in this country should be conversant in Internet technologies so that their career opportunities are broadened. Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam of the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) is leading this Campaign. More than 1,000 teenagers are to be trained through a number of institutions on the latest Internet technologies.

As for working adults and senior citizens, the eSeniors programme aims to create awareness of the opportunities that the Internet economy provides. This group of people, who are most vulnerable to technology shifts, must not be left behind. In fact, the Internet has the most use for this group. One can find information on any subject including ayurvedic treatment, astrology, religion, politics, entertainment, news, weather, culture, history and others. You can even buy things online - from groceries to books to furniture. You can find jobs, friends, and even places to go to on Web. This Campaign is being led by Professor Kandasamy of Universiti Malaya.

It is hoped that readers will participate in this programmes by contacting the Tamil Internet 2001 secretariat at the MIC Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Please call Prakash at 40413286 or email info@tamilinternet.org  You may also click <here> to reserve your seat .