Reducing digital divide vital: PM Manmohan Singh

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Lauding Kerala's pioneering efforts in achieving total e-literacy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said reducing the digital divide was vital to improve the lives of common people across the country.

Launching the total E-literacy Programme of Kerala Government being implemented under P N Panicker Vikas Vigyan Kendra, Singh said this was an initiative which could be taken across the country.

"In fact, we need such initiatives to be taken across the length and breadth of the country. This will help us in realising the full potential of ICT--- in decentralised governance, in better delivery of services, particularly education, in financial inclusion and e-commerce," Singh said.

Recalling the services of late P N Panicker in universal literacy and library movement in Kerala, Singh said the e-literacy programme being launched in tune with the earlier movements would also contribute to quickening the pace of Kerala's social and economic development and political empowerment of people.