Digital India is a Govt of India initiative to transform India into digital empowered society and knowledge economy. It was launched in August, 2014. Digital India aims to improve digital infrastructure of the country, deliver government services electronically and empower citizens through digital literacy. Digital India has three core components: digital infrastructure, delivering services digitally and digital literacy.
Digital India is an Umbrella Programme covering many departments. It will also pull together many existing schemes, which will be restructured and re-focused before implementing in a synchronized manner. The programme will be monitored and controlled by the Digital India Advisory group which will be chaired by the Ministry of Communications and IT. Slated to be completed in phases by 2019, the Digital India initiative will cost Rs. 1,13,000 crore.
Nine Pillars of Digital India:
- Broadband Highways: Broadband for 2.5 lakh gram panchayats, National Information Infrastructure (NII) etc.
- Universal Access to Mobile connectivity: Cover remaining uncovered villages about 43000
- Public Internet Access Programme: National Rural Internet Mission to cover 2.5 lakh villages
- e-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology
- eKranti – Electronic Delivery of Services: e-education, e-healthcare, technology for planning
- Information for All: Online hosting of information and documents. Open access to citizens.
- Electronics Manufacturing: Target NET ZERO Imports. Focus on FABS, Fab-less design, Set top boxes, VSATs, Mobiles, Consumer & Medical Electronics, Smart cards, micro-ATMs etc.
- IT for Jobs: Cover 1 Crore students. Train people in smaller towns & villages for IT sector jobs IT/ITES in NE. Train Service Delivery Agents to run viable businesses delivering IT services
- Early Harvest Programmes: IT platform for messages & Government Greetings among Elected representatives and all Govt employees. Secure email within government; Biometric attendance system; Wi-fi in All Universities; Public wifi hotspots; School Books to be eBooks; SMS based weather information, disaster alerts.
Impact of Digital India by 2019:
- High speed internet in all Gram Panchayats.
- Common Service Centre in every locality.
- Shareable private space on a public Cloud.
- Safe and secure Cyber-space in the country.
- Integration of all departments or jurisdictions.
- Government services in real time from online and mobile platforms.
- Universal digital literacy.
- All Government documents/ certificates to be available on the Cloud.
- Digital resources / services in Indian languages.
- Collaborative digital platforms for participative governance.
Challenges or Problems of Digital India:
- This is gigantic program with many targets and goals. The program itself posses challenges.
- The nine pillars of Digital India covers different areas or aspects. Each Pillar or program has own challenges.
- Financial Issues: Ongoing programs need better focus and restructuring. A few new programs may also be needed, particularly in Electronics manufacturing and Skill Development.
- Human Resource Issues: NIC is still far behind in technology, ministries neeed Chief Information Officer / Chief Technology Officer (CIO/CTO), Department of Electronics and Information Technology needs program managers for success of Digital India.
- Coordination Issues: As the program covers many departments, it demands commitment and effort of all parties involved. Lack of leadership and inefficiency of govt officials could be a problem
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