NIELIT Takes Forward National Digital Literacy & Digital India Campaigns

Taking forward the National Digital Literacy Mission and Digital India Campaign of the Government of India, the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), a body with the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Ministry of Communications & IT, Government of India has entered into an MOU with Intel India to jointly conduct courses and online examinations on digital literacy as well as vet NIELIT’s courses on Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM). Intel will develop the software for assessment of candidates under the National Digital Literacy Mission to make the courses more industry oriented to endeavor to make one member of each house hold digitally literate in India. The MOU was signed by Dr. Ashwini Kumar Sharma, Managing Director, NIELIT with Debjani Ghosh, Managing Director, Intel South Asia in the presence of Chief Guest Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communications & Information Technology and Law & Justice at NIELIT’s national level workshop 2014 for its accredited partners (900 Nos.) and facilitation centres (5000 Nos.).  31 NIELIT centres are located across the country from Leh in the North to Chennai in the South.

The annual workshop on Supporting Digital India by Skilling, Scaling and Speeding Operations through Public Private Partnerships explored possible avenues to facilitate the Skill Development and Capacity Building initiatives of the Government of India. NIELIT also entered into an MOU with the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW) on the occasion. Also present were R.S. Sharma, Secretary, DeitY, Tapan Ray, Additional Secretary, DeitY and Dr. Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary, DeitY. 

Delivering the inaugural address, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communications & Information Technology and Law & Justice said, “ With the launch of the National Digital Literacy Mission and Digital India Campaign, a digital revolution is beginning. The Digital India program of the Government of India encompasses a time when the common man would be easily able to access and track the Government schemes and services even through his mobile phone.  To address these needs I am happy to notice that NIELIT has stepped up its efforts in skill development in the Electronic System and Design Manufacturing sector and has entered into many MoUs to leverage its capacity and create synergy in the area of training and support services.”

Speaking on the occasion, R.S. Sharma, Secretary, DeitY said, “ Among the 9 pillars of Digital India, while it is important that citizens of this country are issued a cradle to grave digital identity for which the UIDAI network can be utilized effectively, it is equally important to address the skill development issues which is another significant pillar under the Digital India program. In this regard, I am happy to note that NIELIT has initiated the process for linking its students database with Aadhaar.”

Shri Tapan Ray, Additional Secretary, DeitY expressed his pleasure that NIELIT in recent times has diversified its activities in niche technological areas like cloud computing, GIS, ESDM etc.

Dr. Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary, DeitY said that NIELIT Centres have close links with the industry and are capable of bringing absolute synergy with industry to design courses under ESDM Scheme.

Dr. Ashwini Kumar Sharma, MD, NIELIT said “The new mantra of ‘3S’ that is ‘Skill’, ‘Scale’ and Speed’ defines the developmental approach of NIELIT in line with National Policy on Information Technology aiming to make at least one individual in every household e-literate, thus helping India become a global IT hub. It is great to see technology leaders like Intel come forward and support the cause. We are sure that through MoUs like this we will be able to work together to realize the vision of a Digital India.”

Debjani Ghosh, Managing Director, Intel South Asia said, “Intel has always been committed to realizing the dream of a Digital India. Through our efforts in accelerating digital literacy in the country, we’ve already reached out to over 3 million citizens till date. We are proud to work with NIELIT in assessing the impact of digital literacy in the country as well as contributing to the ESDM course creation. This collaboration is a true demonstration of the government’s vision of fostering strong public private partnerships under the ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ philosophy to realize the dream of a Digital India.”

More than 9 lakh candidates have been skilled by NIELIT in 2013-14  as against about 4 lakh in the previous year (2012-13). Due to high quality of standards, many Universities have accorded recognition to NIELIT’s non-formal  courses, for lateral entry to formal courses, such as MCA, MBA etc.