Lok Sabha Question No. 3761 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Digital India Initiative in Maharashtra
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Dr. Prashant Yadaorao Padole

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3761

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 18.12.2024

## DIGITAL INDIA INITIATIVE IN MAHARASHTRA

## 3761.     DR. PRASHANT YADAORAO PADOLE:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which the Ministry collaborates with local Governments and agencies in Maharashtra  to  ensure  the  timely  and  effective  implementation  of  the  Digital  India initiative; and
- (b) the measures in place to address concerns or controversies regarding digital inclusion and infrastructure development in rural and underserved areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a):   The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has played a pivotal role in collaborating with local Governments and agencies across India, including the state of Maharashtra  to  ensure  the  timely  and  effective  implementation  of  Digital  India  initiative. Following steps have been taken by the Government to ensure coordination among different agencies involved in this programme.

-  Regular meeting and conference/ workshops with States and UTs especially with the State Information Technology (IT) Departments.
-  Inter-ministerial meetings to create synergy and collaboration.
-  Departments regular meetings and workshops with Industries
-  Close monitoring of various initiatives under Digital India.

Further,  MeitY  actively  works  with  State  Governments  for  development  of  technology  & entrepreneurship in various Tier-2 & Tier-3 towns of India led by organizations like Software Technology  Park of India(STPI) &  National Institute of Electronics &  Information Technology  (NIELIT).  Further,  National  Informatics  Centre  (NIC),  an  attached  office  of Ministry  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology  (MeitY),  has  its  State  Centres  at  State level  and  District  level  all  over  India.  These  State  and  District  Centres  continuously  guide and assist various State & District level Government Offices in developing and implementing various ICT applications.

(b):   Government has taken several steps to bridge digital divide which range from providing meaningful  connectivity  to  citizen  to  providing  necessary  digital  infrastructure  and  digital literacy to the citizen. Over 94 crore citizens are connected through internet. Some of the key initiatives taken by Government are as follows:

- (i). In order to improve the digital literacy rate, especially in rural India, the Government of India implemented a scheme titled 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)'  to  usher  in  digital  literacy  in  rural  India  by  covering  6  crore  rural households (one person per household) across the country, including Maharashtra. As on 31 st March 2024 against 6 crore, 6.39 crore individuals were trained across the country.
- (ii). Common  Services  Centres  (CSCs)  are  offering  government  and  business  services  in digital  mode  in  rural  areas  through  Village  Level  Entrepreneurs  (VLEs).  Over  800

services  are  being  delivered  through  CSCs,  including  government  services,  financial services and services related to Aadhaar, various social welfare schemes, education, telemedicine, travel bookings, utility payments. As on October, 2024, 5.84 lakh CSCs are functional across the country(rural + urban), out of which 4.63 lakh CSCs are functional at the Gram Panchayat (rural) level.

- (iii). BharatNet  project,  one  of  the  biggest  rural  telecom  projects  of  the  world,  is  being implemented  by  Department  of  Telecommunications,  in  a  phased  manner  to  create network to connect all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Villages with broadband. As of Oct-2024; 2,14,283 GPs have been made service ready under BharatNet project in the country.
- (iv). In addition, citizens across the country, have also been enabled to access e-services under various  initiatives,  such  as  Unified  Mobile  Application  for  New-age  Governance (UMANG), Myscheme, DigiLocker, e-Hospital and MyGov, etc.

********