President Kalam advocates ICTs for development

In his address to the joint session of Parliament today, Indian President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam once again reiterated the needs to leverage the benefits of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for achieving universal education and pro-poor growth, particularly in the rural areas. The launch of educational satellites can boost India’s efforts towards universalising quality education for the rural and remote corners of India. A great proponent of creating an Indian knowledge society, Dr. Kalam emphasised the need to reform the traditional education system, by inculcating the spirit of curiosity and scientific temper among the pupil. He mentioned that the proposed National Knowledge Commission, mandated to take India towards the knowledge edge in the 21st Century, would have five goals: Increasing access to knowledge for public benefit, Nurturing knowledge concepts in Universities, Knowledge creation in S&T laboratories, Promoting application of knowledge in our business and industry Using knowledge to improve service delivery in Government. Advocating for a liberalised regime in the communications sector, Dr. Kalam said that, “the priority will be to provide both voice and data transmission connectivity in rural areas.” The recently announced broadband policy can largely enhance the internet connectivity, giving the rural areas an opportunity to employ e-health, e-education, e-governance applications. Bridging the digital divide existing between rural and urban areas must be accomplished expeditiously, he said. Setting a holistic development agenda for the Indian government, Dr. Kalam stressed that India will build a “New Deal for India” by framing a business plan for building a rural infrastructure the sectors like irrigation, roads, housing, water supply, electrification and telecommunication connectivity. The new business plan is set to be unveiled in the Budget Speech by the Union Finance Minister. Source: President of India.

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