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The Institution of Engineers, which recently organized the "All-India workshop on information and communication
technology (ICT) for the masses," has recommended to the Union Government to create a backbone for ICT in the
country by expanding the connectivity network and service delivery channels.
M.N. Shivaram, chairman of the Institution of Engineers, Mysore local centre, said the support of government
agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), entrepreneurs, and the rural folk was crucial to establish
the ICT backbone in the country.
Channels
Apart from putting to use government channels such as the railways, post offices, telephone exchanges, government
schools and the like, efforts should be made for using non-PC based information channels such as PDA, Simputer, and
mobile phones for delivery of services, he said. The Government should encourage venture finance for setting up
rural kiosks.
"The Government should take responsibility for establishing connectivity. It should take the lead in connectivity
and infrastructure creation," Prof. Shivaram said.
Issuing smart cards for identity cards, ration cards, agricultural supplies, health, insurance, and finance would
also go a long way in establishing the ICT backbone.
Rural areas
The Institution of Engineers has also urged the Centre to understand the short-term and long-term requirements
of natural areas and devise programmes in health care, education, agriculture, and commerce by using ICT as a tool.
Prof. Shivaram noted that while the Centre owned the process and the framework, the process and the framework,
the NGOs at the State-level and rural entrepreneurs at the grass-roots levels could execute the projects. "There
should be a tax holiday for rural IT services", he said.
Action promised
Responding to the recommendations, the Union Minister of State for Planning, M.V. Rajashekaran, who participated
in the valedictory function of workshop, promised to give top priority to the recommendations.
Mr. Rajashekaran noted that ICT had tremendous potential in promoting new entrepreneurs in fields such as
e-healthcare, e-governance, e-education, and e-rural development. Knowledge-based industries had emerged as a
major source of wealth in India and ICT had been the frontrunner in this process, he said.
ICT in its full range from radio, television, telephones, computers, and the internet had to reach out to the
block level of the country if its potential as a mass movement for the welfare of the masses had to be realised.
"The availability of telecommunications, computers, and the Internet are not evenly distributed, "he said.
Facilities
Mr. Rajashekaran said the Government's goal of making India a developed nation could not be achieved without
providing urban facilities in rural areas. "But the Government alone will not be able to achieve this. Concerted
efforts is needed from all stakeholders, including the private sector, the NGOs, self-help groups, and entrepreneurs,
to realise our dream of a posperous and vibrant rural India," he said.
An important component of the strategy to take ICT services to the masses and communities was creation of terminal
facilities such as ICT kiosks through community finance or joint efforts of local bodies, NGOs, financial institutions,
and governments. "This may not materialise across the country in the first place because of financial uncertainties
concerning its commercial success," Mr. Rajashekaran said.
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