IT firm CGI opens digital literacy centre in Bengaluru

Global IT and consulting services firm CGI on Friday opened the first digital literacy centre in this tech hub in partnership with the Indian IT industry apex body Nasscom Foundation for the benefit of the local communities.

"The centre will benefit 1,000 people in the underserved community, provide training on how to use computers, mobile phones and other digital devices," said the Indian arm of the CGI in a statement.

Founded in 1976, the Canada-based CGI stands for "Conseillers en Gestion et Informatique" in French and Consultants to Government and Industry in English.

"The training will focus on how to send email, connect on social media, buy from e-commerce web sites, pay bills online, transact through digital payment modes, use online maps and check the weather forecast," said the statement.

The uninitiated people will learn how to use the internet to access various government services like Aadhar, ration and PAN cards and protect against identity theft and cyber-attacks while browsing the internet.

"We are committed to improve the social, economic and environmental well- being of the communities in which we live and work," said CGI Asia Pacific global delivery centres President George Mattackal in the statement.

The company plans to set up more such centres across the country in support of the national Digital Literary Mission.

The mission helps beneficiaries from across the country reap the benefits of a digital India.

As an integrated platform for digital literacy awareness, education and capacity building programmes, the mission enables rural and underserved communities to participate in the global digital economy.

The Nasscom Foundation, which trained over 31,000 people in Bengaluru since 2014, aims to train 15,000 more in digital literacy by this year-end.

"How we fare in a digital-first global economy depends on how equipped our citizens are with the use of digital technology. As CGI shares our vision, we give a chance to the underserved to be a part of the Digital Karnataka and Digital India revolution," said Foundation Chief Executive Shrikant Sinha.

The Canadian $ 10.8-bilion CGI has 74,000 techies the world over and offers end-to-end capabilities, including systems integration, outsourcing services and Intellectual Property (IP) solutions.

--IANS

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