In India, the path towards technology induced development especially associated with ICT, was given a vent in 1984 by Rajiv Gandhi government.
Foundation of Modern Era – Computerisation
- Launch of Computerisation in the Public Sector: The development of computerization was heavily emphasized, especially in public sectors such as railways, banking, and schools, launched under Rajiv Gandhi’s government in the 1980s.
- Computerisation Plan (1985): By 1985, sectors such as railways, airlines, and schools had announced plans for computerization. The process of modernizing India’s infrastructure using ICT had begun.
- Reduction in Import Quotas: To boost ICT development, the government reduced import quotas, taxes, and tariffs on crucial industries, facilitating the introduction of computerized systems such as railway ticketing.
- Telecom Revolution: Rajiv Gandhi is widely considered the “Father of Information Technology and Telecom Revolution” in India. In August 1984, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) was established to improve telecommunications infrastructure across the country.
- C-DOT Revolution: C-DOT revolutionized telecommunications by bringing services like Public Call Offices (PCO) to rural and remote areas, connecting rural India with the rest of the world.
- Establishment of IT Companies: During the pre-1991 era, Indian IT giants like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, and Infosys were established. This laid the foundation for the development of the IT industry.
- Economic Liberalization (1991): After the 1991 economic reforms, duties on IT products were eliminated, and inward and outward investments in IT were promoted. Various fiscal measures by both the central and state governments helped the IT industry flourish.
- Constitution of National Task Force: In 1998, the National Task Force on IT and Software Development was established to promote IT adoption as a national priority. This task force worked at both governmental and non-governmental levels.
- Ministry of Information Technology (1999): The Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT) was established to create job opportunities and promote the convergence of communication technologies.
- E-Government Programme: In the late 1990s, India launched the Information Technology Act (2000) to foster the adoption of e-governance services across the country. States and Union Territories were also involved in launching digital services to serve both citizens and businesses.
- State Involvement: States like Karnataka (with the Bhoomi project), Madhya Pradesh (Gyandoot), Andhra Pradesh (Smart Government), and Tamil Nadu (SARI) were pioneers in providing digital services.
Merits of ICT
- Address Diverse Problems: ICT has enabled solutions for problems related to rural poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. The role of ICT in communication and information growth in India has been crucial over the last two decades.
- India Became a Pioneer: India has emerged as a global leader in software development and is a top destination for IT-enabled services (ITES).
- India as a Model for Outsourcing: Countries around the world look to India as a model for global outsourcing and attempt to replicate its success.
- Delivery of Services: ICT has facilitated service delivery, including government information and services to citizens (G2C), businesses (G2B), and other governments (G2G).
- Changed Social Structure: ICT has led to the creation of a new class of young consumers with high disposable incomes, transforming social structure and self-identity.
- Employment Generator: ICT is one of the largest employment generators. For every person employed in IT, four more are employed in other sectors.
- Transformation of the Economy: ICT has transformed India’s economy, enabling it to shift from a bureaucratic economy to one of innovative entrepreneurship, helping India become a global leader in technology solutions.
- Tackle Corruption: ICT has minimized corruption by reducing direct contact with government officials, thus reducing opportunities for corrupt practices.
- Enhance Literacy: ICT has contributed to education, making vast amounts of information and educational resources available online.
Challenges
- Digital Illiteracy: Although India has made strides in computerization, it still lacks sufficient focus on digital literacy.
- Poor Infrastructure: Infrastructure issues remain a major roadblock to further technological progress and need urgent attention.
- Low Internet Speed: India struggles with internet speed, which is a significant hurdle in the broader rollout of ICT services.
- Lack of Coordination Among Departments: The problem of coordination between various governmental departments hampers the efficiency of ICT initiatives.
Conclusion
With initiatives like Digital India, India is poised to reach the peak of computerization and digitization. However, addressing the aforementioned challenges is key to making India a global leader in the digital space.