NEW DELHI, Jun 29:
Scaling on the optical fibre network, the nation is all set to march on the digital path this week when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches a Rs one lakh crore programme aimed at wiping out the digital divide.
The programme, envisaged by Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY), with coordination with ministry of communications & IT, ministry of rural development, ministry of human resource development, ministry of health and others, will benefit all states and Union territories. The existing ongoing e-Governance initiatives would be revamped for the alignment with the principles of Digital India.
The vision of the programme is to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. It would ensure that Government services are available to citizens electronically. It also plans to usher in public accountability through mandated delivery of Government’s services electronically.
The week-long campaign will be marked by events spread over a week, starting from July 1, during which various activities will be organised under the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM). The aim is to educate the Government employees, including the Angadwadi employees, Asha workers, Government officers, and residents about the use of online facilities of the Government.
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said recently the impact of Digital India by 2019 would range from broadband connectivity in all panchayats, Wi-fi in schools and universities and public Wi-Fi hotspots.
“The programme will generate huge number of IT, Telecom and Electronics jobs, both directly and indirectly. Success of this programme will make India digitally empowered and the leader in usage of IT in delivery of services related to various domains such as health, education, agriculture, banking,” he added.
Amid growing fancy for Digital India, many professionals air scepticism whether the ubiquitous broadband will be available to them or they will face frequent breakdowns in systems despite paying high cost for the internet connections. Their apprehensions stem from the fact that telecom companies after paying higher cost for the spectrum in open bidding will pass on the cost to consumers.
Once the Digital India campaign picks up steam, the net enabled services will certainly transform the lives of people in longrun, ending the digital divide in the society. Wizards of the sector say for that, the Government will have to fine tune its policies regarding telecom and data services to make it cheaper and affordable. More spectrum is bound to be made available.
The defence ministry has agreed to release some spectrum per circle.but the bidding issue stares at the sector,which feels cheaper net availability should be ensured to make the programme more successful Digital India, which is a flagship programme of this Government, is being executed in a mission mode.
Official sources said that the broadband connectivity to 2.5 lakh gram panchayats is also being pursued vigorously to ensure its availability to every nook and corner. The work on laying of the optical fibre net work has been speeded up by 30 times in last months. NOFN will support e-governance services, telemedicine, tele education, financial services, e-commerce and e-entertainment, and will provide non discriminatory access.
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