IT Managers Welcome BJP’s Thrust on IT

Recently released manifesto proposed thrust on e-Governance and mandatory digitisation to reduce corruption

Everybody is talking about digitisation. So, why the national agenda be left out? In its recently released manifesto, Bhartiya Janta Party has categorized information technology as the key driver to development.

With the elections raising the mercury this summer, BJP has emphasized on digitalIndia.

BJP has included its plans to ‘nurture a Digital India’ and promises to make every household and individual ‘digitally empowered.’

The Narendra Modi-led BJP election campaign is no more about Hindutva as the party believes that IT is a great enabler for empowerment, equity and efficiency. The manifesto promises broadband to every village and engage people over social media channels both for participating in governance and also utilizing it for public grievance redressal.

It means a lot to IT Managers as the focus on IT will help automate the processes, making them faster and effective. The plans in the manifesto on e-education or e-governance show lot of promise.

Being hugely benefited by usage of Information technology during campaigning phase, the importance given to technology in the manifesto is nothing a surprise.

Tirumala Rao, AGM IT at L&T MHI Boilers says, “Strengthening e-Governance should be a mandate for any political party as it’s going to define how the culture of digitisation spreads across the country.”Ravi Prakash, Assistant General Manager – IT Infrastructure, Himatsingka Seide Limited says, “Focus on penetration and usage of broadband to the village level will for sure benefit the people of rural areas by enabling Information availability at the finger tips. Generation of IT jobs in rural and semi-urban areas would not only benefit lot of aspirants but would also bring back India as a cost effective destination for IT services, particularly the BPO vertical where India is losing out to countries like Philippines.”

Using Information technology for women’s safety, help the differently abled, use of telemedicine for rural healthcare are a welcome move. Proposed thrust on E-governance and mandatory digitization of all government related works is bound to reduce corruption and delays which is a major concern for the citizens ofIndia.

“The aim of make every household digitally literate is encouraging. Narendra Modi’s statement of IT+IT=IT (Indian Talent + Information Technology=India Tomorrow re-iterates the importance of the role of Information Technology in shaping the country’s future,” adds Prakash.

IT in Manifesto

Deploy broadband in every village.
Leverage technology for e-Governance and engage proactively with the people through social media for participative governance and effective public grievance redressal mechanism
Generate IT based jobs in rural and semi-urban areas and make technology enabled products affordable for students.
Use technology to reduce the burden of books on children. Make all institutions and schools e- enabled in a phased manner. Digital learning and training to be used extensively.
Pursue a mission mode project under the 'National Rural Internet and Technology Mission' for use of telemedicine and mobile healthcare for rural healthcare delivery; use of IT for agriculture for real time information; Self Help Groups; retail trade and SMEs; and rural entrepreneurs, etc.
Initiate a National e-Governance Plan to cover every Government office from the centre to the panchayats. The 'E-Gram, Vishwa Gram' scheme inGujaratto be implemented nationwide.
Promote e-Bhasha - National Mission for the promotion of IT in Indian Languages
Focus to bring SC/ST, OBCs and other weaker sections of the society within the ambit of IT enabled development.
Deploy IT to protectIndia's priceless cultural and artistic heritage, which includes digitization of all archives and museology.
Promote 'open source' and 'open standard' software.
Mandate digitization of all government work to reduce corruption and delays.
Set up High-speed digital highways to unite the nation.
Use technology to reduce Transmission and distribution losses.
Use mobile and e-Banking to ensure financial inclusion.