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
Bihar Cabiner meeting expressways
Bihar's Infrastructure Leap: 12 Districts to Benefit as New Greenfield Expressway Cuts Raxaul-Haldia Travel to Under 10 Hours
Bhupendra Patel CM Gujarat Cooperative
Gujarat Charts Grand Plan for International Cooperative Year 2025 under CM Patel’s Leadership - Details Inside
ministry of information and broadcasting MIB
MIB Issues Transfer & Posting Orders for 31 IIS Officers Across Media Units, Effective Immediately - Check Details Here
Bihar Government-resized-IM
Cane to Cash: Bihar Govt Rolls Out Rs49 Crore Scheme to Boost Sugarcane Farming and Farmer Incomes
bureaucracy news
Anil Kumar Singhal Repatriated to Andhra Pradesh Cadre; FSIB Chairperson & Members Get One-Year Extension
Bhupendra Patel CM Gujarat
Gujarat Secretariat Leads the Way in Reducing Plastic Usage with 'Sakhi Neer' Glass Bottling Initiative
temple
Ghela Somnath Mahadev Temple to Shine with Rs10 Cr Redevelopment Plan, Echoing ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’ Vision
PESB
PESB Selects Nripendra Nath as New Director (Technical) for CMPDIL - Know More About Him
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Inderjit Singh Air India
Is Air India Carrying The Burden of Split Before Privatisation?
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
Ex-IRS Officer C. Rajendiran Illuminates Thirukkural’s Timeless Wisdom in Exclusive Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IPS Deepak Meghani
Deepak Meghani, IPS: A Journey of Focus, Failure, and Quiet Discipline
A passionate writer, he has authored several books in Gujarati, ranging from exam strategy guides to...
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IAS Abhinav Gopal IAS Deepak Karwa
Two IAS Officers Make History by Completing English Channel Swim
Bihar Cabiner meeting expressways
Bihar's Infrastructure Leap: 12 Districts to Benefit as New Greenfield Expressway Cuts Raxaul-Haldia Travel to Under 10 Hours
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Inderjit Singh Air India
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT