https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The IAS Officer Who Firmly Put Kerala on Digital Highway

It is estimated that one individual each from all the 3.25 million families in Kerala has benefitted from `Akshay’- Ms Aruna Sunderarajan’s e-literacy initiative in the state. Subsequently, as Secretary DoT, she revolutionized the telecommunication landscape of India.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Undoubtedly, civil servants act as the bulwark of any administration and are dedicated to serving the nation. However, only a few exceptional officers surpass their call of duty and go the extra mile. The recently retired Secretary in the Department of Telecommunication, Aruna Sundararajan, is among them. She is perhaps best known for `Akshya’- the mass e-literacy campaign she initiated in Kerala.

Holding  a post-graduation degree in philosophy,  Ms Aruna was  an IAS officer of the Kerela cadre since 1982.

During her three-decade-long government career, Sundararajan showcased immense analytical abilities on various policy issues. Prior to her last posting, she worked as the Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics & Communication Technology and Administrator of the Universal Service Obligation Fund. Her administrative stints in government included a term as chairman and managing director of the Bharat Broadband Network, also as Managing Director of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation. 

Kerala’s Digital Journey

In 1998, Ms Aruna  established Kerala’s first-ever Department of Information Technology (DIT). Thus began Kerala’s digital journey, and it was not without its quota of bumps. It took off after  her unabating efforts in convincing the then chief minister E K Nayanar that the IT revolution was a necessary step in the development of the state and hence required an altogether separate department. Since then, this eminent officer has continued her work towards the profound growth of the technological sector.

This IAS officer has been a go-getter

In the course of the last 37 years, she has pioneered a myriad of innovative projects, most of which enjoy considerable acclaim, especially `Akshaya’, an e-literacy initiative wherein more than a million people were trained in basic digital skills on a campaign mode. `Akshaya ‘ has also received tremendous praise internationally.

`Akshaya’ started  in 2002 as an e-literacy project in Kerala’s Malappuram district. Its aim was to spread knowledge regarding basic computer skills amongst the public. Almost instantaneously, it caught people’s imagination and interest across the state. As a matter of fact, it’s estimated that one individual in each of Kerala’s 3.25 million families became computer literate through `Akshaya’ centres!

When the government set up a scheme to provide life insurance coverage to poor people, the pleathora of `Akshaya’ centres in the state helped in speeding up the registration process. Also, 75 percent of all UID (Unique Identification number) registrations in Kerala took place in `Akshaya’ centres.

`Akshaya’ likewise catalysed one of the biggest known Internet Protocol (IP) based rural wireless networks in the world. `Akshaya’ has gotten domestic and worldwide recognition as one of the most spearheading and digital transformation projects universally. 

Additionally, she has led the rural broadband initiative in our country, taking telecommunications to distant  parts of rural India.

Other Achievements

Apart from working for the growth of telecommunications, in 2014, as the Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, Ms Sundararajan launched the Young Entrepreneurs Summit (YES), aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among youth. To this day, it remains as the flagship project of Kerala with regard to building and promoting the growth of entrepreneurship in young minds.

Furthermore, Ms Sundararajan was actively involved in establishing the Indian Institute of Information Technology& Management – Kerala (IIITMK), and the Kochi Infopark, which altered the IT landscape of the state of Kerala. She was also instrumental in kick-starting the SMART City project in Kochi.

Moving On to Centre

As Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in the Centre, Ms Sunderarajan spearheaded the National Digital Communications Policy 2018, which aimed to impel India as a worldwide pioneer in Digital Communications. Key accomplishments throughout the course of her tenure were the launch of the country’s 5G roadmap, the foundation of indigenous Test Bed, creation of the National Frequency Allocation Plan- 2018, and completion of the first phase of Bharat Net.

Ms Sundararajan is one of the most awarded civil servants of India

The illustrious officer has received innumerable awards for her achievements. Honours bestowed upon her include the Top Professional Women Achievers by India Today in 2009, Top Professional Women Achievers by Forbes Business Magazine in Aug 2012, The USIBC Transformative Leadership Award 2017 and Business Today’s 10 Most Powerful Women for 2018. In November 2018, Intel conferred her with the Technology Visionary Award. In January 2019, she was awarded the Digital Woman of the Year by IAMAI and at the 9th India Digital Awards in February 2019, she was unanimously selected as the Telecom Person of the Year by Voice and Data.

Through her expertise and commitment, Ms Sundararajan has paved the way for India’s technological and telecommunication sector. Her indomitable spirit and persistent hard work are an inspiration for women, and will surely leave a lasting impact on one and all.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
Mohan Yadav
MP CM Mohan Yadav Pushes for Sustainable, Community-Driven Rural Water Policy; Targets 100% Tap Coverage by March 2027
Ajay Bhadoo IAS
IAS Ajay Bhadoo Gets Extended Term as DGFT - What It Means & His Career Journey
THDCIL_Receives_ABMS_Certification_for_Integrity_and_Transparency
THDC India (THDCIL) Awarded ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Certification by BIS - Details Inside
Ministry of Environment
Environment Ministry Clarifies Petrol Vehicle Tender, Cites E-Vehicle Flexibility
Bokaro Steel Plant
PESB Selects Priya Ranjan to Head Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL’s Key Production Unit
REC Limited wins ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC (DNA) Awards
REC Limited Bags ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC Awards
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT