'Digital technologies empower individuals'

Digital technologies and practices are the instruments of empowerment to individuals in India and transforming the way businesses and services are being conducted and offered, said leading IT personalities and officials on Friday.

At the panel discussion 'Accelerating the Digital transition' organised at the Global Exhibition on Services 2015 here, Kiran Karnik, chairman, CII National Mission on Digital India said India is at the cusp of a digital transformation.

Karnik highlighted the empowering nature of digital technologies by invoking the net neutrality campaign raging on in India right now.

"India and civil society have participated so actively in the net neutrality (campaign). We know where it is all coming from," said Karnik about digital technologies which include all the social media, apps and internet.

Sanjeev Gupta, joint secretary, information technology, department of agriculture and cooperation, ministry of agriculture, recommended different business and deployment models for rural, semi-urban and urban regions for enabling last mile digital connectivity.

Gupta said active existing infrastructure sharing by banks, self-help groups, cable operators, educational institutions and others should bolster the digital transition.

"Imagine connecting six lakh villages and the effect it will have on manufacturing industry. It will be a great boost for Make in India," added Gupta.

Bhaskar Pramanik, chairman, Microsoft India, called for the creation of a unified digital identity in India for availing central government services, state government services, municipal services and financial services among others.

He hailed Aadhaar identity as a national asset which documented the name, picture, finger prints and iris.

He said 'National Identification Authority of India' bill should be passed to give Aadhaar legal sanctity adding linking education and health services will make it more credible.

Pramanik predicted that government apps will be the killer apps of the future overtaking the current favourites on cricket and bollywood.

Another important aspect discussed for the acceleration of digital transition in India was the enhancement of digital literacy among people. At least one digital literate person in every household will add to 30 crore digital literate people in India.

Assuring that the suggestions and ideas given by the speakers will be presented to the IT minister, Aruna Sundararajan, chairman and MD, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), said, "Every section of the society has a role to play."

Sundarrajan termed digital transition as a dire need for India rather than a luxury. She said most of the suggestions are directed at the government but industry also has a large part to play in the agenda.

BBNL laid 60,000 km length of fibre optic cable in the last six months.