Narendra Modi-led BJP will use information technology (IT) to drive India to a new world of opportunities, said the party manifesto released today.
The BJP manifesto unveiled in Delhi today morning said the party believes that IT is a great enabler for empowerment, equity and efficiency.
The NDA Government had made IT one of the major thrust areas. With the result, India is the IT capital for the whole world. But back home, the benefits of IT have not percolated down. This will be a high priority area for BJP that IT touches the lives of ordinary men and women. BJP has been known for good Governance and e- Governance will become the backbone for good Governance. BJP aims to nurture a Digital India – making every household and every individual digitally empowered.
Information technology has made it possible to make information and services reach to the ordinary men and women even in remote areas, easily and effectively. Availability of information is the key to empowerment of the stakeholders. This also reduces the scope for discretion and manipulation.
BJP, which will take on Rahul Gandhi-led Congress Party, will fcus on increasing the penetration and usage of broadband across the country. Deployment of broadband in every village would be a thrust area.
It will leverage technology for e-Governance and engage proactively with the people through social media for participative governance and effective public grievance redressal mechanism.
BJP will try to generate IT based jobs in rural and semi-urban areas.
The party said it make technology enabled products affordable for students.
BJP will use technology to reduce the burden of books on children. Make all institutions and schools e- enabled in a phased manner. Digital learning and training will be used extensively.
It will pursue a mission mode project under the National Rural Internet and Technology Mission for use of telemedicine and mobile healthcare for rural healthcare delivery; use of IT for agriculture for real time information; Self Help Groups; retail trade and SMEs; and rural entrepreneurs, etc.
BJP will initiate a National e-Governance Plan to cover every Government office from the centre to the panchayats. The ‘E-Gram, Vishwa Gram’ scheme in Gujarat will be implemented nationwide.
It will promote e-Bhasha – National Mission for the promotion of IT in Indian Languages.
Meanwhile, Congress said BJP has copied its manifesto. Technology makes like easier for BJP as well.
Dear @BJP4India thanks for liberally copying our manifesto.Wish you adopt our liberal values too #CopyCatManifesto pic.twitter.com/wr0Spq2Wc2
— INC India (@INCIndia) April 7, 2014
BJP will focus to bring SC/ST, OBCs and other weaker sections of the society within the ambit of IT enabled development.
BJP will envision in deploying IT to protect India’s priceless cultural and artistic heritage, which includes digitization of all archives and museology.
It will promote open source and open standard software.
The party will mandate digitization of all government work to reduce corruption and delays.
BJP will set up High-speed digital highways to unite the nation.
The party will use technology to reduce Transmission and distribution losses.
In addition, it will encourage the use of mobile and e-Banking to ensure financial inclusion.
BJP aims to make every household digitally literate with a goal to make India the Global Knowledge hub, with IT being a major driver and engine of growth.
IT does not work always. See Narendra Modi’s Tweet today.
Unfortunately, due to technical reasons, 3D rallies scheduled today stand cancelled. I regret inconvenience caused to people across India.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 7, 2014
It wants to strengthen the traditional employment bases of agriculture and allied industries, and retail – through modernization as well as stronger credit and market linkages.
Corruption is a manifestation of poor Governance. Moreover, it reflects the bad intentions of those sitting in power. All pervasive corruption under the Congress-led UPA has become a ‘National Crisis’.
BJP said it will establish a system, which eliminates the scope for corruption. We will do this through: public awareness; technology enabled e-Governance – minimizing the discretion in the citizen-government interface; system-based, policy-driven governance – making it transparent;
Digitization of Government records will be taken up on top priority so that they are easily accessible. BJP said performance review, social and environment audit would be mandated for all Government schemes and programs.
It will create a fund for modernization of courts to improve the operational efficiency of courts. In addition, BJP will set up a comprehensive National e-Library, empowering Lawyers. BJP also plans to develop India into a Global Hub for Arbitration and Legal Process Outsourcing. Modernize the police force and equipping them with the latest technology will also be in pipeline.
BJP will initiate the networking of police stations across the country for intelligence sharing and crime control. The party wants to modernize Indian prison system with technology and infrastructure; to strengthen the security as well human rights and correctional dimensions.
National Madrasa modernization program would be initiated.
BJP today said it will will initiate building 100 new cities; enabled with the latest in technology and infrastructure – adhering to concepts like sustainability, walk to work etc, and focused on specialized domains.
It will focus on upgrading existing urban centres, transitioning focus from basic infrastructure to public utility services like Waste and Water Management – for a clean and healthy city life.
Wi-Fi facilities will be made available in public places and commercial centers. It wants to promote the use technology for scientific, strategic and long term town planning – including GIS based mapping.
BJP will recommend the use of technology to deliver low cost quality education to specially-abled students ‘in-home’ – through E-learning.
The party wants the new government to identify each and every special needs person across the country – establishing a web based disability registration system to issue universal ID for all applicable government benefits (healthcare, transportation, jobs, education etc).
BJP will enable women with training and skills – setting up dedicated Women ITIs, Women wings in other ITIs.
It will take initiative to set up an All Women Mobile Bank to cater to women.
BJP will explore ways to reduce the daily burden of carrying books to school for children, which would also entail use of technology for education as a mission mode project.
The party wants to set up a national E-Library to empower school teachers and students.
BJP would set up Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) and virtual classrooms to make it convenient for working class people and housewives to further their knowledge and qualifications.
It will launch a national program for digital empowerment through computer literacy of the people, especially the youth. Modernize Government hospitals, upgrading infrastructure and latest technologies is also a focus area.
SME sector needs to be developed by providing international linkages for exports, availability of credit through a dedicated SME bank, supply chain efficiencies, adoption of IT, support in R&D and innovation, and a policy support for enhancing the mandate to purchase from SME for large scale projects.
It will focus on setting up a National Optical-Fiber Network up to the village level; and Wi-Fi zones in public areas. It will harness advanced satellite technology and expertise for development. In addition, railways modernization, inducting of technology, will gain priority.
BJP will provide the State governments with all assistance to modernize their respective police forces and equip them with the latest technology. This will be taken up on a mission mode approach.
