CoOptions' project to integrate rural sector services

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 30. The Hyderabad-based CoOptions Technologies is taking up an innovative pilot project (IT) in four districts of Andhra Pradesh for linking about 1,000 primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS).

The company, which is keen on creating a `cyber rural economy', is backed by Mr. N. S. Raghavan, co-founder and former joint managing director of Infosys Technologies. CoOptions is building an application service provider (ASP) solution for the rural sector through its `indiaruralworld.com', which aims at integrating the rural sector services, covering rural credit, markets, healthcare, education, thrift and allied activities.

Initially, the company will integrate the 1,000 PACS comprising about 40 lakh members in Chittoor, Nizamabad, West Godavari and Krishna. The project, to be completed within 12 months, involves an investment of Rs. 25 crores, which will be borne entirely by the company (no Government investment). The cost of the project for the entire State was estimated at Rs. 60 crores.

Giving these details here, Mr. Subramanyam Yadavalli, COO, CoOptions, said `Karshaka Pragati' as it is named by the company, was the first of its kind IT project in the country.

It proposes to deploy Pax@2000, its solution catering to membership, share management, production credit, trading among others. As an extension, its `Smart Kisan' would help interface the farmer with the cooperative banking system for loan transactions.

Revenues initially would be confined to annual subscription fee of Rs. 15,000 per PACS, and a monthly fee of Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 8,000 depending on the size of the PACS.

Eventually, it hopes to generate revenues from online sales (fertilizers and other inputs), in which it can also have profit sharing understanding with the PACS, he said.

Mr. Subramanyam said the company was also in talks with a few other States to provide such linkages for rural economy.

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Section  : Business
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