Minister for Information Technology, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari today launched Digital India Programme here at SKICC. The programme was organized by IT department through its e-governance agency and JaKeGA. The programme envisages making all citizens digitally literate and bringing internet and e-governance to all sections of the society.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister stressed the need for sensitizing people about the ongoing activities under Digital India Programme and highlighted its importance as an effective tool to provide efficient governance.He said Digital India refers to government campaign to digitally deliver essential services to all the citizens and raising digital awareness among the people.
Mr. Ansari said the programme will bring in public accountability through mandated delivery of government services electronically. He said Digital India is an umbrella programme which seeks transforming India into a digitally empowered economy.The Minister gave a historical background of Information Technology and said that the journey was started with computerization of records and giving desktops to our officers and their staff. Now the Digital India is a convergent programme to address all issues of day to day life and promises to deliver the benefits of digital revolution to the citizens.
“As part of Digital India our vision for the Jammu and Kashmir State is to ensure that our economy transits to digital based economy”, the Minister said, adding that the Government is committed to provide world class IT infrastructure in the State. He said there will be broadband highways, OFC running through the length and breadth of State, significantly improved mobile connectivity, high speed public access to internet and business friendly environment.
He said two committees have been formed to oversee the implementation of Digital India Programme in JK. The State Committee is headed by the Chief Minister, while the Apex Committee is headed by the Chief Secretary. The Union Government has committed to provide full support in implementing the said programme across the State.The Minister also congratulated the IT department for initiatives they have taken in most trying times in the State. The initiatives include e-Assembly, IGNOAPS EBT, e-Prison, JK Pulse, Automation of JDA, Capacity Building and Skill Development initiatives, web based document Management Solution and Face Recognition based attendance system. On the occasion, the Minister released two booklets “Digital India” and “Advancing Development Agenda with AADHAAR” which have all information about the Information Technology and benefits of AADHAAR, the unique identity.
On the occasion, presentations were also given on all the nine pillars of Digital India Programme including Broadband Highways, Universal Access to phones, Public Internet Access programme, e-governance, e-Kranti, information for all, electronic manufacturing, IT for job and Early Harvest Programme.Earlier, Secretary IT, Hirdesh Kumar Singh gave key note address and briefed about the Information Technology and e-Governance and AADHAAR programme.Chief Executive Officer, JaKeGA, Mr. Mohammad Akbar Wani, State Informatics officers, Mr.Abhey Kumar, District Development Commissioner, Dr. Farooq Ahmed Lone, large number of students from various Universities, Colleges, ITIs, Polytechnic colleges and CSC operators besides Private IT companies and technocrats were present on the occasion.