DigiGaon pilot to start in three states

Aiming to provide various internet-based services in rural areas, the government will soon start a pilot project offering services such as tele-education, Wifi and LED-based lighting across three states under its ‘DigiGaon’ programme.

The project entails an initial outlay of about Rs 423 crore over three years, which includes six months of implementation period and 2.5 years of operation, maintenance service and delivery phase.

Services will be rolled out in 1,050 gram panchayats across 30 blocks in three states. The three states will be chosen from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh based on their readiness and availability of bandwidth/connectivity, a senior electronics and IT ministry official told DNA Money.

While tele-education will be provided by ERNET, tele-medicine will be offered by CDAC. BSNL is being considered for offering Wifi services on a nomination basis, the official said.

Following the success of the pilot, the project will be rolled out across the country. Electronics and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had taken rounds of meeting to take it forward.

The scheme is part of the government’s ambitious Digital India plan.

DigiGaon project will improve health and education services in rural areas. Besides, provisioning of community access to IT enabled resource centre, Wifi and LED street lighting at a common place in the village will create a conducive environment for digital literacy, financial inclusion and digital access to knowledge and services, according to the ministry.