MUMBAI, India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the "Digital India" project that aims to connect tens of thousands of Indian villages through high-speed internet and promote mobile-governance throughout the country.
“I dream of a digital India where government is open and governance is transparent,” Modi said at a ceremony organized to launch the project in the Indian capital of New Delhi Wednesday.
“Even the poorest of the poor must not remain unconnected,” he said, adding: “I dream of a digital India where the world looks towards India for the next big thing”.
The Indian government plans to transform electronic governance into mobile governance, which the premier said would fulfill the dreams of millions of Indians. The ambitious digital India project seeks to connect 250,000 Indian villages by 2019.
He also said that it was time India made quality electronic goods that were globally competitive and assured support for startups.
“Design in India is very important. Just like Make-in-India is important,” he said.
“We must assure the world through innovation that it is a product of India,” he added.
Modi said that investments worth $70 billion have been committed to the "Digital India" project, which would give employment to 1.8 million people.
During the ‘Digital India week’ launched Wednesday, students are expected to learn about modern gadgets and technologies. The week will also introduce Indian citizens to e-education and e-health through mobile applications.
