Sibal wants ICT to empower citizens

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Communications Minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday held a round table conference with stakeholdres, including prominent IT industries, for formulating a draft National Information Communications Technology (ICT) Policy-2011. The move is part of an effort to empower citizens and also to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.

The stakeholders proposed services including tele-medicine and education which concerns the people in general.

While Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) proposed to make Internet a fundamental right under the policy, stating that many countries have already done this, HCL Infosystems proposed to bring in low-cost devices in the country offering access to Internet.

'Access to Internet should be made a fundamental right'

"Access to Internet should be made a fundamental right," said Rajesh Charia, president, ISPAI.

Industry leaders also suggested creation of funds under the policy to support Indian companies in coming up with innovative products.

Speaking about funding, Sibal said, "This is an issue that needs to be looked at. We need funds but we need to look at the way we should arrange it."

The minister also emphasised that the endeavour is not only to promote the growth of IT industry but to use information and communications technology for empowering citizens and ensuring transparency and accountability in governance through reliable and efficient delivery of public services.

Some of the objectives sought to be achieved include providing e-infrastructure for delivery of e-services, enabling creation of innovative research and development infrastructure in emerging areas of ICT and securing India's cyber space.