THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government will provide WiFi connectivity at public places in 100 panchayats in the state, Industries and Information Technology Minister P K Kunhalikutty has said. “The government has embarked on the second phase of the digital literacy programme, which would see more e-governance applications and mobile services,” the Minister said after inaugurating a seminar on e-governance organised by the IT Mission here on Monday.
The Minister said the government would launch a unified mobile application to provide all e-governance services to the public through mobile phones. The state has around 4,000 startups and the government gives priority to egg on more youngtreprenuers into the sector.
He said the government was providing 25 per cent subsidy to electronics manufacturing units in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kochi and Kannur. Efforts are on to set up electronic hardware parks in the rural areas of Cherthala, Kundara, Kannur and Kasargod.The Minister also launched the e-KYC (Electronics-Know Your Service) of Aadhaar services at the function.The Minister said the digitalisation of government services would help to reduce corruption. The e-tender service is an example. The digitalisation and mobile phone services would ensure inclusive growth, transparency and efficiency.
The government aims to explore the high mobile phone penetration rate in the state to deliver services. Industries and Information Technology principal secretary P H Kurian, who delivered the keynote address, opined that Kerala would be a digital state by 2020.
“Kerala has high smartphone penetration which could be utilised for digital delivery of e-services. The state will have the facility to provide 2 mbps internet connection through OFC cables within two years,” he said.
Bharat Broadband Network CGM Mathew, Startup Department CEO Jayasankar Prasad, NIC SIO Mohandas, IT Mission director Mohammed Safarulla and Dairy Faremers Welfare Fund Board chairman John Jacob were present.