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Budget 2019: DIGITAL VILLAGE – 5-year upward mobility plan for 1 lakh villages

The CSCs are in the process of installing digital infrastructure in the villages slated to be converted into DigiGaons, he said in the speech

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The government aims to turn 1 lakh villages into digital villages over the next five years under its ambitious Digital India programme, said Finance Minister Piyush Goyal while announcing the Interim Budget 2019-20.

This, he said, would be achieved by expanding the Common Service Centres (CSCs), which ave been set up under the Ministry of Electronics and IT for delivery of essential utility services and government schemes.

The CSCs are in the process of installing digital infrastructure in the villages slated to be converted into DigiGaons, he said in the speech.

"CSCs are a strategic cornerstone of the Digital India programme. They are the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society," the minister said.

Across the country, over 3,00,000 CSCs currently employ about 12 lakh people, and deliver a slew of services digitally to the rural population.

Lauding mobile connectivity across the country, Minister Goyal said: "India is now leading the world in the consumption of mobile data. Monthly consumption of mobile data increased by over 50 times in the last five years. The cost of data and voice calls in India is now possibly the lowest in the world."

He further said that under the Centre's flagship Make In India initiative, mobile and parts manufacturing companies have increased from two to more than 268 in the past four-and-a-half years, churning huge job opportunities.

According to information from CSCs, citizens in a Digital Village would get access to various e-services provided by the central government, state government and private players in rural or remote villages.

As part of the pilot programme, CSCs have adopted six villages where services, including a WiFi choupal, small manufacturing units and sanitary napkin,. Dispensers, are being set up to generate employment.

"DigiGaons have been positioned as change agents that will promote rural entrepreneurship and build rural capacities," CSC officials said.

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