Sibal says 25,000 gram panchayats to be networked by 2014 end

Around 25,000 gram panchayats across India will be networked by 2014 end as part of the National Fibre Optics Network programme in the first such scheme to connect so many people, Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal said here today.
"This project would be the first of its kind in the world launched by any government connecting such a large population," he said after inaugurating 'Vidya Jyothi,' an initiative of Consumer Affairs and Food Minister, K V Thomas.
The National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) would enable any person to access data, birth and death certificates and registered documents.
Sibal stressed the need for appropriate infrastructure to enable students access information from any part of the country.

The Minister said 604 universities and 15,000 colleges would be networked by next year under the National Knowledge Networking programme.
Presently, 400 universities have already been networked, but there were issues of efficiency which are being looked into, he said.

As part of the programme, students of Ernakulam constituency who have scored A+ in all subjects in SSLC/Plus 2 examinations would be gifted with a tablet PC, which would be a useful learning aid for their future studies.
Twenty-six tablet PCs were distributed to students of St. Theresa's girls high school today.
Addressing a convention, Sibal asked Congress workers to work together to ensure the defeat of Left parties in the next elections. The Left had lost confidence of the people, which was clear from the fact they had lost in West Bengal and Kerala, he said.

In the next elections also, the Left parties would lose in Kerala, he said.
Sibal said the UPA government had brought in three major reforms during its tenure-- RTI, Right to Education and Food Security.
Another milestone would be the Land Acquisition Bill, which when passed would be a landmark as farmers would get four times the compensation they get now for surrendering their land, he said.