Here we note from the newspapers that National Communication Policy (ICT) Policy-2011 is about to be released in short time. Right now the ministry is putting in efforts to create a draft of the National Communication Policy (ICT) Policy-2011, and recently there was a deliberation in a round table conference. As per the press release by the ministry, the key pillars of this policy are:
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e-Government: Providing e-infrastructure for delivery of e-services
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e-Innovation / R & D: Enabling creation of Innovation / R&D Infrastructure in emerging areas of ICT&E
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e-Learning: Providing support for development of e-Skills and Knowledge network
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e-Security: Securing India's cyber space
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e-Inclusion: Promoting the use of ICT for more inclusive growth.
Thus, the policy reiterates the emphasis on the National e Governance Plan of the Government of India.
But what are the challenges?
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The most important issue is how to implement the system in such a large country with such a large scale. The basic need to make the programme usable is Broadband access, and access to content and technology, how to do that? Minister (Kapil Sibal) tries to answer it:
The National e Governance Plan tries to emphasize on access to web enabled services through common internet kiosks known as Common Service Centres (CSCs) on a Public Private Partnership Model. This CSC scheme is the largest internet kiosk initiative in the world. These centres are envisaged as the front-end delivery points for Government, private and social services and provide access to education, telemedicine, public services, remote banking and entertainment to hitherto unreached sections of society.
The CSCs also emphasize in the efforts of achieving 100% Financial Inclusion. Large sections of our society, in the rural areas do no have access to Banks and to credit. This results in their inability to leverage financial instruments for their economic growth. In order to mitigate this challenge, the Working Group of Reserve Bank of India has allowed CSCs, amongst others, to work as Banking Correspondents on a pilot basis. (Said the minister).
