Many countries interested in emulating India’s digital transformation: Manoj Sinha

Several countries have evinced keen interest in emulating India's success story in the use of information technology as the key enabler for promoting inclusive development, minister of communications Manoj Sinha has said.

He said a number of participants, countries and organisations showed keen interest in understanding the technologies adopted by India to leap frog from traditional system of governance to digital system of governance.

India has utilised ICT as a key enabler of governance, based on the principles of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas (development for all), Sinha pointed out.

Speaking at the World Summit on Information Society, WSIS Forum-2017 at Geneva, the minister highlighted the success story of India in leveraging ICT for providing citizen centric information and services in timely and reliable manner under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The minister explained in detail the ambitious Bharat Net Project, which aims to provide broadband connectivity to over 2,50,000 gram panchayats via indigenously developed Gigabyte Passive Optical Network by the end of year 2018. This ambitious digital connectivity project, which is also the world's largest connectivity project, is unique in many of its dimensions and will ensure reliable and quality broadband connectivity to rural areas, he said.

Sinha highlighted India's success story of direct benefit transfer through Aadhar, e-payments facility through BHIM, use of National Digital Literacy Mission, digital platforms such as national e-governance platform, m-governance and government e-marketplace during the address. He also highlighted the role of Digital India in ensuring citizen-centric services and its role in building a knowledge based society.

In order to enhance cooperation between India and International Telecommunications Union (ITU),

The minister, who also met ITU secretary general Houlin Zhao and deputy secretary general Malcolm Johnson, said there was a strong desire on the part of ITU to enhance cooperation with India and study the flagship programmes such as Aadhar, Digital Financial Services so as to put it as global standards.

ITU also showed interest in identifying developmental and social programmes and technologies, good practices of ICT based interventions in India, including in Smart Cities project for its implementation in other parts of the world. Sinha welcomed ITU's proposals and reiterated India's support for opening of a local area office of ITU in India.

Sinha also asked ITU to take lead in addressing the misuse of ICT by terrorists and cybercrimes through darknet, darkwebs and other instruments.

The minister is heading a high-level delegation for the meeting of the World Summit on Information Society Forum-2017 (WSIS) which is being held at Geneva from 12 to 16 June 2017.