Digital India Power to Empower

Niraj Dubey
According to our PM Narendra Modi ji, “In this Digital age, we have an opportunity to transform lives of people in ways that was hard to imagine a couple of decades ago. I see technology as a means to empower and as a tool that bridges the distance between hope and opportunity.” The Digital India programme has been launched with an aim of transforming the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The Digital India would ensure that Government services are available to citizens electronically. It would also bring in public accountability through mandated delivery of government’s services electronically; a Unique ID and e-Pramaan based on authentic and standard based interoperable and integrated government applications and data basis. Our Prime Minister in his address at the Digital India event two years back spoke at length on technological advancements and its impact on people and nation as a whole. Here’s is the key highlight of PM’s speech at Digital India event: I dream of a Digital India where high-speed Digital Highways unite the Nation. I dream of a Digital India where mobile and e-Banking ensures Financial Inclusion. The world used to think we are a land of snake charmers and black magic. But our youth has surprised the world with its IT skills. I dream of a digital India. I dream of a Digital India where knowledge is strength – and empowers the People. I dream of a Digital India where technology ensures the Citizen-Government interface is incorruptible. I dream of a Digital India where e-Commerce drives Entrepreneurship. I dream of a Digital India where quality education reaches the most inaccessible corners driven by Digital Learning. Vision Areas of Digital India:-a) Digital infrastructure as a core utility to every citizen, b) Goverence & services on demand, c) Digital empowerment of citizens.
ÒNine pillars of Digital India:- i) Broadband Highways. ii) Universal access to phones. iii) Public Internet access programme. iv) E-Governance. v) eKranti – Electronic delivery of services. vi) Information for all. vii) Electronics manufacturing. viii) IT for Jobs. ix) Early harvest programmes.
ÒKey Projects of Digital India programme:-
Digital Locker System aims to minimize the usage of physical documents and enable sharing of e-documents across agencies. The sharing of the e-documents will be done through registered repositories thereby ensuring the authenticity of the documents online.
MyGov.in has been implemented as a platform for citizen engagement in governance, through a “Discuss”, “Do” and “Disseminate” approach. The mobile App for MyGov would bring these features to users on a mobile phone.
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Mobile app would be used by people and Government organizations for achieving the goals of Swachh Bharat Mission.
eSign framework would allow citizens to digitally sign a document online using Aadhaar authentication.
The Online Registration System (ORS) under the eHospital application has been introduced. This application provides important services such as online registration, payment of fees and appointment, online diagnostic reports, enquiring availability of blood online etc.
National Scholarships Portal is a one stop solution for end to end scholarship process right from submission of student application, verification, sanction and disbursal to end beneficiary for all the scholarships provided by the Government of India.
Deity has undertaken an initiative namely Digitize India Platform (DIP) for large scale digitization of records in the country that would facilitate efficient delivery of services to the citizens.
The Government of India has undertaken an initiative namely Bharat Net, a high speed digital highway to connect all 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats of country. This would be the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity project using optical fibre.
BSNL has introduced Next Generation Network (NGN), to replace 30 year old exchanges, which is an IP based technology to manage all types of services like voice, data, multimedia/ video and other types of packet switched communication services.
BSNL has undertaken large scale deployment of Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the country. The user can latch on the BSNL Wi-Fi network through their mobile devices.
To deliver citizen services electronically and improve the way citizens and authorities transact with each other, it is imperative to have ubiquitous connectivity. The government also realises this need as reflected by including ‘broadband highways’ as one of the pillars of Digital India. While connectivity is one criterion, enabling and providing technologies to facilitate delivery of services to citizens forms the other. A digitally connected India can help in improving social and economic condition of people through development of non-agricultural economic activities apart from providing access to education, health and financial services.
However, it is important to note that ICT alone cannot directly lead to overall development of the nation. The overall growth and development can be realized through supporting and enhancing elements such as literacy, basic infrastructure, overall business environment, regulatory environment, etc. The author like to conclude this article by this quote, “Digital platforms help make the India of our dreams happen”.
(The author is Er. Niraj Dubey – Sr. Faculty & Warden – GCET Jammu)

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