Permanent Mission of India
Geneva

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World Summit on Information Society Forum-2017 (WSIS)

Press Release

     Shri Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of State for Communications (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Railways is heading a  high-level delegation for the meeting of the World Summit on Information Society Forum-2017 (WSIS) which is being held at Geneva from 12-16 June 2017.

      While speaking on 'High-level Strategic Dialogue – ICTs for advancing implementation of SDGs, Hon’ble Minister highlighted the success story of India in leveraging ICT for providing citizen centric information and services in timely and reliable manner.  He mentioned that under visionary leadership of Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, ICT has been utilized as a key enabler of governance, based on the principles of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.  Hon’ble Minister explained in detail the ambitious Bharat Net Project, which aims to provide broadband connectivity to over 250 thousand Gram Panchayats via indigenously developed Gigabyte Passive Optical Network by the end of year 2018.  This ambitious digital connectivity project which happens to be the world’s largest connectivity project and unique in many of its dimensions will provide reliable and quality broadband connectivity to rural areas.

Address by Shri Manoj Sinha during High-level Strategic Dialogue on ICT

     India’s success story of direct benefit transfer through Aadhar, e-payments facility through BHIM; use of National Digital Literacy Mission, digital platforms such as National e-governance platform, m-governance, Government E-market Place were also highlighted during the address.    The success story of Digital India in ensuring citizens centric services and its role in building a knowledge based society was specially mentioned in the address.

     Number of participants, countries and organizations showed keen interest in understanding the technologies adopted by India to leap frog from traditional system of governance to digital system of governance.

     In order to enhance cooperation between India and International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Hon’ble Minister met Mr. Houlin Zhao, Secretary General, ITU and Mr. Malcolm Johnson, Deputy Secretary General, ITU.  There was a strong desire on the part of ITU to enhance cooperation with India and study the flagship programmes like Aadhar, Digital Financial Services so as to put it as global standards.  ITU also showed interest in identifying developmental and social programmes and technologies, good practices of ICT based interventions in India including in Smart Cities project for its implementation in other parts of the world.  Hon’ble Minister welcomed ITU’s proposals and reiterated India’s support for opening of a Regional Office of ITU in India. He asked ITU to take serious note and take lead in addressing the misuse of ICT by terrorist, cyber crime through darknet, darkwebs and other instruments.

Meeting with Secretary General ITU Mr. Mr. Houlln Zhao

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