Centre to focus on three points for 'Digital India' scheme

Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Saturday said the central government would focus on three points - digital infrastructure, governance and services - to drive its 'Digital India' scheme.

The minister said: "Digital infrastructure, governance and services on demand and digital empowerment of citizens are the three key areas" the government will focus on to empower the 'Digital India' project.

The project aims to turn India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The central government has envisaged Rs.1 lakh crore for it.

"Money shall not be a problem as far as 'Digital India' is concerned," he said while addressing a press conference here on the first 100-days performance of his ministry.

The government has written to all the chief ministers to work together with the central government for development of IT sector, Prasad said.

"In electronic manufacturing we have tried to standardise the duty to quite some extent. I am going to Germany tomorrow (Sunday) where we will do four road shows for electronic manufacturing," he said.

"The way TV has proliferated in India, we will try to spread broadband in the country in similar way. We have requested TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) to give a proper recommendation on virtual network."

Talking about his government's focus on national cyber security, the minister mentioned that inter-ministerial consultancy is on regarding a National Cyber Coordination Centre for Rs.800 crore.

Noting that e-commerce has huge potential in the country, the minister said: "The way it is proliferating, it will be a game changer in the future."

Regarding the concerns whether bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh will impact IT industry adversely, he said Bangalore and Hyderabad are the prime cities of IT and new knowledge economy.

"The chief ministers of both the states believe that it has to be maintained."