The Digital India program is expected to be implemented in phases from the current year until 2018. The program is expected to be transformational and would work towards making sure that those government services are available to all citizens electronically.
The vision areas of Digital India:
The vision areas of Digital India:
I Infrastructure as Utility to Every Citizen:
(i) High-speed internet as a core utility shall be made available in all Gram Panchayats. (ii) Cradle to grave digital identity – unique, lifelong, online and authenticable. (iii) Mobile phone and Bank account would enable participation in digital and financial space at the individual level. (iv) Easy access to a Common Service Centre within their locality. (v) Shareable private space on a public Cloud. (vi) Safe and secure Cyber-space in the country.
II Governance and Services on Demand:
(i) Seamlessly integrated across departments or jurisdictions to provide easy and single window access to all persons. (ii) Government services are available in real-time from online and mobile platforms. (iii) All citizen entitlements to be available on the Cloud to ensure easy access. (iv) Government services digitally transformed for improving Ease of Doing Business. (v) Making financial transactions above a threshold, electronic and cashless. (vi) Leveraging GIS for decision support systems and development.
III Digital Empowerment of Citizens:
(i) Universal digital literacy. (ii) All digital resources are universally accessible. (iii) All Government documents/ certificates to be available on the Cloud. (iv) Availability of digital resources/services in Indian languages. (v) Collaborative digital platforms for participative governance. (vi) Portability of all entitlements for individuals through the Cloud.
Scope of Digital India:
The overall scope of this programme is: (i) to prepare India for a knowledge future. (ii) on being transformative that is to realize IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow) (iii) making technology central to enabling change. (iv) on being an Umbrella Programme – covering many departments. The programme weaves together a large number of ideas and thoughts into a single, comprehensive vision so that each of them is seen as part of a larger goal. Each individual element stands on its own but is also part of the larger picture. The weaving together makes the Mission transformative in totality. (v) The Digital India Programme will pull together many existing schemes which would be restructured and re-focused and implemented in a synchronized manner. The common branding of the programmes as Digital India highlights their transformative impact.
Digital India aims to provide the much-needed thrust to the nine pillars of growth areas, namely
Approach and Methodology:
Program Management Structure:
A programme management structure would be established for monitoring implementation. Key components of the management structure would consist of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for according approval to projects, a Monitoring Committee headed by the Prime Minister, a Digital India Advisory Group chaired by the Minister of Communications and IT, an Apex Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) / Committee on Non-Plan Expenditure (CNE).
Background:
Even though India is known as a powerhouse of software, the availability of electronic government services to citizens is still comparatively low. The National e-Governance Plan approved in 2006 has made steady progress through Mission Mode Projects and Core ICT Infrastructure, but the greater thrust is required to ensure effective progress in electronics manufacturing and e-Governance in the country. The Digital India vision provides the intensified impetus for further momentum and progress for this initiative and this would promote inclusive growth that covers electronic services, products, devices, manufacturing and job opportunities. India in the 21st Century must strive to meet the aspirations of its citizens where the government and its services reach the doorsteps of citizens and contribute towards a long-lasting positive impact. The Digital India Programme aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy by leveraging IT as a growth engine of new India.
