Digital meet: Experts stress on making tech more inclusive
Digitisation was not only changing life at a rapid pace but also bringing about prosperity and happiness, industry minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat said on Wednesday.
He was speaking at the second edition of the ‘Digital Rajasthan Conclave’ here.
The minister said IT and digitisation has changed the people’s lifestyle and ensured quality employment, good governance and financial inclusion. He said success would mean nothing without happiness and that is why the happiness index is being much talked about in the world.
The minister highlighted the challenge of “limited empowerment” whereby people who had access to technology were not using it effectively owing to lack of skills.
Later, the minister released the knowledge report on ‘Digital Rajasthan Conclave: Transforming Lives through Technology’ prepared by Ernst and Young.
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) director general Omkar Rai said STPI has two units in Rajasthan and of the 17 units in these two parks ₹1,000 crore worth software was being exported from Rajasthan.
Rajasthan State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation Ltd (RIICO) managing director Mugdha Sinha said this conclave would go a long way in bridging the digital divide.
She said even the “have nots” were now using technology as was evidenced by use of Paytm and other such applications.
“However, only 27% in urban areas and only 4% in rural areas were using digital technology today. This number has to be increased to make it more effective,” she said. She urged the investors to make investment in the IT parks developed by RIICO. “The time has come when risk has to be taken and disruptions as well as rapid change will now a constant,” she said. The event was jointly organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and STPI.