World Bank report stresses need for more digital connectivity
Posted on: 13/May/2016 12:45:20 PM
A World Bank report has said that nearly a billion people still need to connect to the Internet in India. The report has said that this will push growth, create jobs and help in accessing public services.
The World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends said, At least 8 in 10 individuals in India own a mobile phone and digital technologies are spreading rapidly. With nearly a billion people still not connected to the Internet, the opportunities for increasing access to digital technology for creating higher growth, more jobs, and better public services are significant for India.
Say the reports authors, Digital development strategies in India need to be broader than Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strategies. There is little doubt about the transformative potential of digital technologies. However, they are not a shortcut to development, though they can be an accelerator when used in the right way.
A senior official of the World Bank in India said, The digital revolution is transforming the world, aiding information flow and creating huge opportunities for growth and poverty reduction. India`s Aadhaar programme is today a model for many countries and recent initiatives like Digital India has the potential to generate greater digital dividends among all sections of its society. However that reaping full benefits will require affordable and wider access to the Internet and skills that enable all workers to leverage the digital economy.
