The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with the beneficiaries of various Digital India Mission schemes from across the country, through video bridge. The video bridge connected over 50 lakh beneficiaries, including those from Common Service Centres, NIC centres, National Knowledge Network, BPOs, Mobile Manufacturing Units and MyGov volunteers. This is the sixth interaction in the series by the Prime Minister through video bridge with various beneficiaries of Government schemes.
Interacting with the beneficiaries, Prime Minister said that Digital India was launched to ensure that people from all walks of life, especially those from rural areas, are digitally empowered. He added that to make this possible, Government has worked on a holistic policy consisting of connecting villages through fibre optic, digitally educating citizens, providing service delivery through mobiles and promoting electronic manufacturing.
Talking about technology, Prime Minister said that technology has brought about ease of living and Government’s efforts are to ensure that the advantages of technology was available to all sections of the society. Various provisions like online payment of bills including BHIM APP, online booking of railway tickets, and electronic delivery of scholarships and pensions to bank accounts have greatly reduced the burden on common people, Shri Narendra Modi added.
Describing the importance of Common Service Centers (CSC), Prime Minister said that CSC’s across India are providing digital services to rural India. CSCs have successfully developed Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLE) in rural areas and created job opportunities for more than 10 Lakh people. There are 2.92 Lakh CSCs in rural India providing opportunities to access various government and other services across 2.15 Lakh Gram Panchayats
During the interaction, Shri Narendra Modi said that the movement towards more digital payments is resulting in the elimination of intermediaries. Digital payments in India has grown significantly in last four years, making Indian economy digital and transparent.
Talking about Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), PM said that the scheme has already provided digital skill and training to 1.25 crore people, out of which 70% of candidates are from SC, ST and OBC communities. The scheme aims to provide digital skills and basic computer training to six crore people through 20 hours of basic computer training.
Digital India has also transformed the BPO sector immensely. Earlier BPOs were only restricted to big cities, now it is spread to small towns and villages, creating employment opportunities. The India BPO promotion scheme and the separate BPO promotion scheme for the Northeast, started under Digital India will create new employment opportunities to over two lakh people in North East and in rural areas. Now the youth of nation is getting jobs near their homes due to BPOs units opening all through out India, Prime Minister said.
Interacting with the employees of various Electronic Manufacturing Units, Prime Minister said that India has gone a long way in Electronics Hardware Manufacturing in the last 4 years. To promote electronic manufacturing in India, Government has started the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) scheme, through which 23 EMCs are being opened in 15 states. The scheme is expected to provide employment to close to six lakh people. Prime minister also noted that India has 120 mobile phone manufacturing factories now compared to just two such units in 2014.These units have created directed and indirect employment to more than 4.5 lakh citizens.
Prime Minister also talked about the importance of National Knowledge Network (NKN) in building a strong Digital India. NKN inter connects about 1700 major Research and Educational Institutes in India, thereby providing a powerful platform to close to five crore students, researchers, academicians and government officers.
Prime Minister also interacted with the volunteers of MyGov platform, the citizen engagement platform created within two months of the formation of the government. There are more than 60 lakh volunteers associated with the platform, giving ideas, suggestions and doing various volunteer activities, playing a huge role in building of a New India, Shri Modi said. Prime Minister also added that through Digital India, ‘4E’s- Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Empowerment are being achieved.
Interacting with the Prime Minister, beneficiaries of various Digital India schemes explained how the schemes have played an important role in transforming their lives. Various beneficiaries also described how Common Service Centre (CSC) has brought employment opportunities and the various services it provides has resulted in ease of living.
We launched @_DigitalIndia with a very simple focus- to ensure more people can benefit from the joys of technology, especially in rural areas: PM @narendramodi #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath https://t.co/usgvsFKgCR
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
Due to technology railway tickets can be booked online, bills can be paid online...all this brings great convenience. We ensured that the advantages of technology are not restricted to a select few but to are there for all sections of society. We strengthened network of CSCs: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
The @_DigitalIndia initiative is creating a group of village level entrepreneurs: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
In the last 3 years, I have 15 computers. Due to @_DigitalIndia, my village has got internet access. Due to this children are availing of online coaching facilities. Mine is a digital village: Jitender Solanki from Gautam Budh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh tells PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
I noticed that in our village, digital literacy is rising due to Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan. Earlier the elderly were inconvenienced but now pension related issues are solved through technology: Jitender Solanki from Gautam Budh Nagar tells PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
I am associated with a CSC. I have seen how this works and it has given me a new identity. I will always pray for your long life for the good work you have done: Misbah Hashmi from Yamuna Nagar tells PM @narendramodi #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
At my Centre, a wide range of Government and other services like banking, insurance and pension related issues can be availed. At the same time, I am ensuring more women get access to medical services, they can call doctors: Misbah Hashmi tells PM #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
I learnt how to use the BHIMApp, which made my life easy: Meenu from Haryana's Yamuna Nagar #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath https://t.co/usgvsFKgCR
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
I had no employment but thanks to CSC, I got work opportunities. People in my village, especially the elderly and students are most happy with CSCs: A youngster from Gondia in Maharashtra tells PM @narendramodi #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
I had to walk 25 km to get my wages...the CSC has changed that. Due to this my family is very happy: Shanta Ji from Gondia #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
Due to CSCs and technology, I am working on tele-medicines. It is wonderful to help others in need: Snehlata Ji from Alwar in Rajasthan tells PM @narendramodi #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
The movement towards more digital payments is linked to eliminating middlemen: PM @narendramodi #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
Due to @_DigitalIndia the BPO sector is changing. Earlier, it was only about bigger cities but now things are different. The India BPO promotion scheme and a separate BPO promotion scheme for the Northeast is creating new opportunities relating to the sector: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
People from a BPO in Kohima, Nagaland are interacting with PM @narendramodi. Watch. https://t.co/usgvsG1S1r #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
Due to @makeinindia, we see a boost to manufacturing and this has given youngsters an opportunity to work in several sectors. We feel proud to see our country grow like this: Garima Ji from a Mobile Manufacturing Unit in Noida tells PM #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
Along with digital empowerment, we also want technology to boost creativity: PM @narendramodi #DigitalIndiaKiBaatPMKeSaath
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2018
