Union Government plans to provide broadband Internet connectivity to 2.5 lakh panchayats in next 1.5 years.
Sam Pitroda, Adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh revealed this information on Twitter.
In his press meet on Global Innovation Roundtable 2012 — his second on Twitter after September’s conference on democratisation of information — Pitroda was asked many questions on corruption, social, governance, infrastructural issues, among others.
Pitroda, who is advisor to the Prime Minister on public information infrastructure and innovations, said the aim of the several workshops being organised is to simplify the procedure of PCs, mobiles and televisions to children.
“Workshops to help children dismantle & understand concepts behind everyday products: PC, mobile, TV etc,” he tweeted. Pitroda also said that the government is planning to launch scholarships related to innovation.
“We are introducing #innovation scholarships, TOD-FOD-JOD centres, Akash tablets and connectivity through NKN.” On broadband connectivity, he tweeted.
“In the next 18 months, v (we) plan to connect 2,50,000 panchayats# innovation.” He said that government envisions panchayats as hubs for service delivery to citizens when broadband comes in.