Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the government is making significant investments in technology to create modern digital infrastructure that benefits all sections of society. During a Post-Budget webinar on the theme ‘Unleashing the Potential: Ease of living using Technology’, the Prime Minister emphasized that this year’s Union Budget is focused on improving the ease of living with the help of technology.
Prime Minister Modi added that the changing India of the 21st century is continuously empowering its citizens with the power of technology, and this is clearly visible to people.
Mr. Modi highlighted that the government’s efforts are making the lives of the poor and unprivileged better, and people no longer view the government as an obstruction, but rather as a catalyst for development. He urged for the evaluation of good practices adopted by other countries to improve citizen services. He further noted that the government’s policy interventions are now showing results.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the One Nation One Ration Card initiative and underlined that technology was the basis for its success. He stated that many poor people started receiving rations because of this tech-enabled platform, and the Covin platform played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Modi emphasized the need to continuously update the Karmayogi platform and create a system to receive feedback from users. He also stated that several steps have been taken over the past few years to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
Here are some ideas that can be borrowed:
1. Investing in technology to create modern infrastructure: One of the key ideas that can be borrowed from the Indian government’s approach is investing in technology to create modern infrastructure. For instance, India’s government has heavily invested in the Digital India campaign to modernize the country’s infrastructure and make it more accessible to people from all walks of life. This has resulted in the creation of a strong digital infrastructure, which has helped to connect people across the country.
Other countries can benefit from adopting similar initiatives by leveraging technology to create modern infrastructure. This could include investments in digital infrastructure, such as high-speed internet access, to help connect people and businesses. By doing so, countries can help to bridge the digital divide and create more inclusive societies.
2. Using technology to improve citizen services: Another idea that can be borrowed from the Indian government’s approach is using technology to improve citizen services. For example, India’s One Nation One Ration Card initiative leverages technology to provide food rations to people across the country. The initiative has been successful in ensuring that the poor and unprivileged receive the support they need.
Other countries can adopt similar initiatives to provide essential services to their citizens using technology. For instance, digital platforms could be used to provide health services, education, and social services, among others. By leveraging technology, countries can provide better and more efficient services to their citizens.
3. Supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs): The Indian government has taken several steps to support SMEs over the past few years. For instance, it has launched initiatives such as the Start-up India programme to provide funding and other support to small businesses. This has helped to create jobs and support economic growth.
Other countries can adopt similar initiatives to support SMEs in their countries. This could include providing funding and other support to help small businesses get off the ground. By supporting SMEs, countries can create jobs, support economic growth, and promote innovation.
In conclusion, the ideas highlighted can be borrowed by other countries to improve their digital infrastructure, provide better citizen services, and support small and medium enterprises. By leveraging technology, countries can create more inclusive societies and support economic growth.