Every village to have broadband connection, says Ravi Shankar Prasad

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that seven and half lakh kilometres of cable is proposed to be laid over next three and a half years to provide broadband in every village of the country.

Prasad, who was interacting with a few contributors of ideas for 'Digital India' project in the national capital last evening, added that this project aims at digital empowerment of people and will be a game changer.

Prasad also pointed out that there is a need to sensitise people about the power of technology. He said various certificates as needed by the poor people can be reached to them in their villages itself.

He added that India now has about 30 crore internet users and is crossing the number of internet users even in the United States which is the second largest internet users in the world now after China.

Prasad said electronic manufacturing is also sought to be promoted in a big way in the country. He pointed out that while in urban India mobile connectivity is 146 percent, it is only about 46 percent in rural areas.

Such an urban- rural divide is sought to be bridged now, he added.

He complimented all the contributors of ideas towards various themes on MyGov, a cherished Internet-based platform for citizen engagement, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 26.