GUWAHATI, Oct 4 - The Assam IT Policy 2016, which has been drafted with an eye to attract investment through good governance, is likely to be implemented in a month. This was announced by IT Minister Keshab Mahanta while addressing a public consultation on the draft IT Policy 2016 held at NEDFi House here today.
Mahanta asserted that this IT policy is going to be the best in the country as it has incorporated a gamut of issues right to community participation, employment generation and growth with equity.
The key objectives of the policy are creating enabling environment for growth of IT, electronics industries, deliver services electronically in an easy, effective, efficient, transparent and inclusive manner, develop core ICT infrastructure for delivery of e-services and build and enhance capacities and impart ICT skills.
�We are focused on improving digital literacy in the State and expecting to make around 25 lakh people digitally literate,� said Mahanta, adding that right now there are many challenges before the department to bring the State at par with the other States that have advanced greatly in the field of IT. He said the government�s vision to usher in digital transformation in each village of Assam will be realised and this will lead to sustainable growth and promote society.
It needs to be mentioned that the IT department is contemplating to emulate Andhra Pradesh which is aiming to provide internet connection to all households in the State as part of Digital India campaign and has launched the fibre grid project to provide broadband connectivity at a cheap rate.
A seven-member team from Assam will go to Visakhapatnam to study the fibre grid project and submit its report to the department. �After the policy is implemented, we will hold an investors summit to promote Assam,� said Mahanta.
The programme was attended by Additional Chief Secretary VS Bhaskar, Director of the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Guwahati, Gautam Barua, Commissioner and Secretary of IT Department, KK Dwivedi, amongst others.
