World must focus on how to bridge digital, gender divide:India

India has stressed that the role of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in eradicating poverty, boosting development, financing and protecting the environment cannot be ignored.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN Asoke Mukerji said the international community must focus on how to bridge the growing digital divide and gender divide so that ICTs can play their "true role as enablers of accelerated development."
Mukerji was speaking at the stocktaking session for the overall Review by the General Assembly on the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) here yesterday.
"The role of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in the context of eradication of poverty, development, financing and protecting the environment, cannot be ignored," he said.

He said the session is taking place at a "critical moment" for the world body as the Millennium Development Goals are being upgraded and significantly expanded into the post-2015 Development Agenda. He said India looks forward to adopting a Review in December 2015.
He also welcomed the participation of all member states and all relevant WSIS stakeholders in the Review process.
"We stand ready to fully support the co-facilitators in taking this process to a successful conclusion, to be adopted at the highest possible level meeting in December 2015," he added.