As the country heads for a digital tomorrow riding the ambitious `100,000 crore ‘Digital India’ programme, it is time to set right all that has plagued every sector. Unlike many flagship schemes announced by successive governments since independence, the Digital India programme in one stroke puts every sector and every Indian as its focus to deliver better services and governance so far denied to them.
As an unbiased and clear-minded chronicler of this revolution waiting to unfold, we are headed for the tenth eIndia Summit (http://eindia.eletsonline.com/2014/), India’s premier ICT event at Kovalam in Kerala this month. To be inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the two-day event (14-16 November) organised by Elets Technomedia jointly with the Kerala government will see stakeholders in every sector from across the country brainstorm on the way ahead for the Digital India programme. The education track summit will host education policy makers from states and the Centre, vice chancellors from eminent institutions and educators across the country.
Since the inaugural eIndia event in 2005, Elets Technomedia has closely watched and recorded the contemporary India evolve. Thinking ahead, we had strongly advocated the use of information and communication tools in more than half a dozen sectors to create opportunities and improve last mile connectivity in governance, education, health, infrastructure, communication, sustainable enviornment, smart cities and financial inclusion. That was the time when India was gripped by the BPO and call centre phenomenon.
Through the years, we have strived to offer a valuable platform for all like-minded stakeholders to show their achievements, share their success and explore partnerships with others ready to embrace digital solutions. For more than a decade, several thousands of innovators have been honoured by us for their contribution to create a digital India.
Not content being passive observers, we have also acted as an enabler to improve digital ecosystems in India. One instance of our intervention in education is the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI). Under this initiative, we offered expertise and assistance to the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, in the formulation of the National policy on ICT in School Education. Today, it is heartening to see how ‘Digital India’ has envisaged transforming education.
This issue of digitalLEARNING is a special issue on the ‘Digital India’ programme and has a holistic coverage of interviews beginning with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to other top policymakers. We have also engaged with leading educators, academics and corporates who offer their perspectives on challenges and opportunities thrown by this ambitious programme. This edition of digitalLEARNING features preschool business in India that cries for immediate attention and regulation.
Let us gather at eIndia 2014 Summit set amid the scenic beaches of Kovalam in Kerala. ‘Digital India’ is not merely a flagship programme. It is the collective conscience of an emerging India to democratise basic needs and opportunities and consequently relegate poverty and enable India to be a global hub for manufacturing, education and health.
Let us leapfrog India from a developing nation into a digital nation. See you at Kovalam!
