Digital India highlights: Rs 4.5 lakh cr investment, m-governance, 18 lakh jobs and 'I dream of...'

[caption id=“attachment_2321866” align=“alignnone” width=“642”]  Courtesy: NIC[/caption] PM Modi kicked off its pet project ‘Digital India’ that aims to connect all gram panchayats by broadband internet, promote e-governance, and transform India into a knowledge economy. “Digital India aims to connect the entire country through broadband by 2019,” said IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in a welcome speech during the ‘Digital India Week’ launch today. He said, “Digital India will remain incomplete without ‘Make In India’ initiative. We will appeal businessmen to come and participate.” Here are the highlights of the event: –RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced a Rs 2.5 lakh crore investment across Digital India pillars; To create Jio Digital India start up fund; working with device makers to make affordable devices. – Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry says the to hire 60,000 IT professionals this year. “Tata group has continued to invest in digital space; and has been active in e-governance programmes.” – “India Today + Information Technology = India Tomorrow has become a staple mantra of IT firms,” said Wipro’s Azim Premji. – “PM has articulated a bold vision for our digital future. We applaud this momentous launch,” Kumar Mangalam Birla said. “Invested in excess of $15 billion, which includes 100 thousand kms of fibre. We’ll invest additional $7 billion.” Working to set up 100-acre digitally enabled township near Mumbai; plan to connect with CSR network in healthcare, education. Intend to build a ‘Bharat connect’; plan to assemble, connect with 10 million people across villages. – Airbus CEO Bernhard Gerwert says committed to support India in making Digital India a success. – “PM Modi understands the power of technology,” says Sunil Bharti Mittal. “We need to take connectivity to the next level, bring 4G for masses.” We commit to spend $16 billion to build further, deeper IT infrastructure in rural, urban India. – Will invest Rs 10,000 crore over next few years across digital, cloud and telecom space: Anil Ambani – We will try to connect Jammu & Kashmir through optic fibre under Digital India: Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal – Government is launching third phase of e-Shakti Abhiyan during Digital India Week to make 1 crore women digitally literate: ShivrajSingh Chouhan PM Speaks – Rs 4.5 lakh crore investment has been committed for Digital India and employment for 18 lakh people: PM * It is our responsibility that we provide digital and technological opportunities to the poorest sections in India * E-governance will soon become m-governance…not “Modi-governance”, it is “Mobile-governance” * The day isnt far when banking will be paperless and premise-less * Government promises complete support to Indian startups to fuel innovation and growth in India. India may soon become world’s second largest startup hub after the US. * Cyber security is an issue. We can innovate to provide security worldwide Modi concluded the event by saying: “I dream of a Digital India where high-speed digital highways unite the nation; where 1.2 billion connected Indians drive the nation; where access to information knows no barriers; where government is open and governance is transparent; where netizen is an empowered citizen; where technology ensures that the citizen and government interface is incorruptible; where knowledge is strength and empowers the people; where government services are easily and efficiently available on mobile devices; where mobile and e-banking ensure financial inclusion; where the world looks to India for the next big idea; where government actively engages with people on social media; where farmers are empowered with real-time information to remain connected to global markets; where mobile phones enable personal services; where cyber security becomes an integral part of the national security.”