The government will train one crore rural and underprivileged women on information technology and e-commerce by 2022 to empower them under a Tk 545 crore project.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved the project to be fully funded by the government.

Under the project, 490 information centres will be set up at upazila level. The centres will have a web portal and information archive, among others.

The aim of the project is to empower the rural underprivileged women by giving them access to IT and providing technology-based service, according to a planning ministry report.

The women will receive support in solving their day-to-day problems using IT. They will also be provided with services through e-commerce from the information centres.

Groups with knowledge in technology will also be formed through e-learning system.

An official at the Prime Minister's Office said the large-scale project has been taken based on the success of some pilot projects in recent times. The women and children affairs ministry will implement the project.

The ECNEC also approved seven other projects involving Tk 2,178 crore. Some Tk 793 crore will come as aid from development partners.

A project involving Tk 66 crore has been approved to enhance the welfare of the workers in the hilly districts. A 10-bed healthcare centre will be set up to cater formal and non-formal workers in the districts.

After the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said: “The families of the workers will receive healthcare services free of cost from the centres.”

He said the women of the hilly districts would be given training to improve their skill in weaving traditional garments.

A five-storey academic building, male hostel, female hostel, dormitory, inspection building, and cafeteria will be set up under the project.