Digital Empowerment of Citizen

Digital Empowerment of Citizen

Raktim Choudhury PGP 2015-17 (1501035)

Introduction

Digital India

A project launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to empower the citizens of India and extend governance and services better through the use of information technology.

The Digital India program has a three point vision:

1. Infrastructure and utility to every citizen

2. Governance and Services on demand

3. Digital empowerment of citizen

The first two agenda are an integral part of the ultimate process to empower every citizen of India.

Scope of Empowerment

100% Internet Literacy of citizen across India

Internet infrastructure to every citizen (Wi-Fi connectivity in every Panchayat, school and university)

Digitized resources to be made universally accessible in Indian languages

All citizen entitlements, documents and certificates to be made available on cloud

Private space on cloud for every individual for easy portability of documents

Greater financial inclusion through instant banking services to every individual via mobile banking apps

Unique identification number for seamless integration with all departments of government

On demand governance and services increased ease of doing business

Key Stakeholders

The Government of India: All government departments are set to undergo digitization. This will lead to better integration among departments

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited: Tasked with laying the National Optical Fiber Network which forms the backbone of the internet infrastructure

Unique Identification Authority of India: Responsible for collecting and collating citizen information and creating the unique identification number for each individual

National Informatics Centre: Will play the pivotal role in making information and knowledge resources available online in Indian languages

Indian IT & Services Industry: Digital India program will need strong web hosting platforms, user friendly applications and highly sophisticated security systems to ensure data integrity. This will create a huge business for Indian IT and services industry

Challenges

Achieving 100% internet literacy across India is a serious challenge given that computer literacy stands at less than 7%. However a lot can be achieved if all the panchayat members, government school teachers and health workers are made internet literate. These people, working at grass roots, can help to cascade the knowledge down to the rest of their communities

Some people are against digitization of citizen entitlements, documents and other individual information. The concern is that it might make the government more authoritarian with increased public surveillance and monitoring capabilities without consent.

Another point of concern for many sceptics is the laying of the National Optical Fiber Network which is undertaken by BSNL. The project is huge and most critical part of the internet infrastructure. An delays in this project will set back the timeline of the entire program.

Thank You