PM Narendra Modi says 'digital revolution is about to begin'; showcases his vision

NEW DELHI: At the launch of the government's 'National Digital Literacy Mission', Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said, "A digital revolution is about to begin."

Modi went on to say that his vision of a 'digital' India encompasses a time when the common man is able to track the government's work from his mobile phone. The National Digital Literacy Mission envisions to make 10 lakh citizens across India digitally literate.

Among other things, Modi stressed on harnessing the 'immense talent'of youth. "Youth has immense talent and there is enormous scope of development." "Electronics manufacturing can be encouraged in Jharkhand. We have to take Jharkhand towards progress with development initiatives," Modi said. "If we want to take India ahead, we have to take the states ahead," he added.

Meanwhile, the cabinet on Wednesday approved the ambitious Digital India programme that aims to connect all gram panchayats by broadband internet, promote e-governance and transform India into a connected knowledge economy.

The Programme, which would be implemented in a phased manner by 2019, is estimated to cost about Rs 113,000 crore, including ongoing schemes being run by the telecom department and Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), as well as on new schemes "Digital India is a program to prepare India for a knowledge future,” says a presentation on the program to the cabinet by DeitY. "The focus is on making technology central to enabling change". Modi had listed Digital India as among the top priorities for the new BJP-led central government, while delivering his maiden Independence Day speech on August 15.


Watch: PM Narendra Modi says 'digital revolution is about to begin'





The vision of the programme is centred on three key areas: digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen – digital identity, mobile phone and bank account, safe & secure cyber space; governance & services on demand – services available in real time on online and mobile platform, making financial transactions electronic and cashless, & digital empowerment of citizens – all documents, certificates available on cloud.

Digital India envisages connecting 2.5 lakh villages by broadband and phones, reduce import of telecom imports to zero, wi-fi in 2.5 lakh schools, all universities, public wi-fi hotspots for citizens and creating 1.7 crore direct and 8.5 crore indirect jobs. Other impact points include training 1.7 crore citizens for IT, telecom and electronics jobs, and delivering e-governance and e-services.

(With inputs from ET Bureau)