Srinagar, May 17: Minister for Science and Information Technology, Aga Syed Ruhulla said that implementation of e-governance on fast track has become necessary due to increasing interference of information and communication technologies in day to day life.
 The minister said government has taken several initiatives to create basic infrastructure on district, tehsil and block levels required for the purpose.
 The minister was addressing a seminar on “better life in rural communities with ICT” here today. The function was organized by the Institute of Engineering India (Srinagar chapter) to mark the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2011.
 Senior General Manager, BSNL, Mahesh Shukla, Chairman, IE, Qazi Nazir Ahmad, Er. Nazir Ahmad Qureshi and Farooq Ahmad Wani were among others present on the occasion.
 Ruhullah said that e-governance is priority of the government, adding that setting up of Khidmat Centres and Community Information Centres would play a major role in implementing e-governance project in J&K.
 He said 1150 Khidmate centers are being set up in the State, adding efforts are on to create basic infrastructure in such blocks and tehsils which have not been covered so far. He said initiative for setting up of Khidmat Centres was aimed to ensure service delivery system in rural and remote areas.
 The Minister said that present era is the age of technology, adding that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is playing vital role in economic development. He said Government has initiated several measures to boost information technology in the State.
 The Minister said that States like Kerela and Andhra Pradesh have made considerable progress in implementation of e-governance and government is treading fast on this path.
 The Minister said that Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah is keen to promote IT sector and implementing e-governance on fast rack basis in order to improve the socio economic status of the people, particularly living in rural and remotes areas of the State. 
 Shukla explained the advantages of ICT (Information and Communication Technology). In a PowerPoint presentation, he said, 3.5 billion people, half of the world population living in rural areas, are enjoying the facilities of ICT, apart from 1.4 billion living in remote areas. He said ICT plays its role in disaster management, weather forecasting, health, education etc sectors.
 Qazi Nazir highlighting objectives of the Institute said it is a single largest body of engineers and technologists having  5 lakh member including 90,000 corporate members  offering informal trainings in different disciplines.
 He said ICTs and related e-applications are key instruments in improving governance and rural services like providing community healthcare, safe drinking water and sanitation, education, food and shelter, improving maternal health and reducing child mortality.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 IST