Andhra sets an example for the rest of Digital India
Amidst a nationwide push for digitisation, one state is standing out more than others. With a vision and dream to be among the top three developed states in India by 2020 and number one by 2029, Andhra Pradesh has left no stone unturned on its desired path of overall development. At Microsoft’s Future Decoded event in Mumbai on Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed his confidence that his state was on the right track to realise this vision through the power of technology.
The most impressive development that the state has brought about using technology is in its governance. The AP government has adopted the concept of Real Time Governance, which brings the citizens and all the departments of the government on one platform, making the process effective and transparent. At the centre of this transformation is the CORE (CM Office Real-Time Executive) dashboard which displays every department’s key performance indicators that can be monitored not only by the CM but also by the citizens. Chandrababu Naidu claims that it was using Real Time Governance that he managed to bring normalcy in a matter of eight days in the areas affected by the Hudhud cyclone.
The CM was of the opinion that billions of users in the country use mobile phones but not to its maximum efficiency. To change that, the AP government along with Microsoft launched a cloud-based application called Kaizala. A simple app that integrates government departments, companies, citizens, and allows the transfer of large amounts of information. The application enables collaboration using WhatsApp style groups through which you can communicate, co-create and transact with the help of cloudpowered insights. Using the phone number as the primary setup point instead of an email account, the application has a clear India-based design focus that will help bring those who are still unaware of email into the digital era.
Out of all the steps taken by the Andhra Pradesh government for its development, the most prominent one is the recently-established Fintech Valley in Visakapatnam. The valley will be a playground for start-ups that will receive tremendous support from the AP government, which includes free infrastructure for six months and free connectivity. According to IT advisor to Chief Minister Naidu, J A Chowdary, to start with, an exclusive building has already been constructed with a space of 1.5 lakh sq ft and an additional three lakhs sq ft will be added in the coming months. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said, “Our vision is to create 5 lakh jobs in Andhra Pradesh by 2020 through technology-enabled services. Fintech Valley is a playground for start-ups and innovators. Our aim is to turn Fintech Valley into a global hub by enhancing the Fintech ecosystem with mutually beneficial cross-border collaborations and relationships. This can lead the way in the technological and financial growth of the nation.”