Kuppam HP i-community

The Kuppam HP i-community in Andra Pradesh, India, marked its third anniversary in 2005. With the continued use of its mobile information unit and delivery of community portal and information centers – the CIC Wireless Network – at the Kuppam HP i-community, more than 15,000 citizens have been given access to critical government, healthcare, education and agriculture information and services all in three languages: Hindu, Telugu and English.

With expanded products and services offered at 14 Community Information Centers, more than 15,000 citizens have accessed e-government, education, healthcare, agriculture or small-business information and services via an online community portal.

Recently, HP deployed two additional Mobile Solution Centers. These vans provide health and information services to more than 12,000 people in 150 outlying villages monthly. Among the services delivered, farmers received help to identify and address crop problems and citizens gained access to vision testing and remote access to medical practitioners.

This i-community also nurtured a new class of women entrepreneurs known as Village Photographers. The program enables local, women-owned entrepreneur groups to leverage HP’s high-resolution digital photography and printing services in ways that are new and impactful for these rural areas. Using a solar-powered, portable charging system, digital camera and printer – a mobile photo studio – these photographers go to remote areas and provide government ID photos, capture key events and document public works, and provide on-the-spot processing to local residents at a modest price. While leasing the equipment and purchasing consumables at market rate from HP, many of the entrepreneurs have reported doubling their monthly family income and discovering newfound status within their communities.