Thiruvananthapuram: Traditional knowledge and information ongrassroots innovations will be just a click away when the Kerala State IT Mission launches itsportal this month.

The Kerala Innovation Foundation's move aims to reduceerosion of knowledge and protect available knowledge and practices in sectorslike herbal medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry, food, environmentprotection and culture.

The programme will also include a state-level register ofbiodiversity and geographical indicators, IT Mission coordinator V.R.Ajithkumar said.

"As the first step to this, we would run a pilotprogramme to digitise the traditional knowledge and grassroots innovation ofMalappuram district in February," Ajithkumar told sources.

Malappuram has been chosen for its spectacular success in acomputer literacy project -the 'Akshaya IT programme'.

"The campaign would be undertaken with the help oflocal self-governments," he added.

The programme will document the entire resources of everylocal body so as to aid upcoming entrepreneurs.

"We aim to create a knowledge network that can empowerinnovators, recognise and augment contemporary innovations and facilitatediffusion of grassroots innovations through commercial and non-commercialchannels," said Ajithkumar.

The IT Missionis organising a one-day workshop Feb 7 here when experts from various sectorswill discuss the programme.