DoT and NABARD Join Forces to Enhance Broadband Access for Rural Digital Empowerment
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Synopsis
The DoT and NABARD have signed a MoU to enhance digital empowerment in rural areas by providing high-speed broadband access under the BharatNet project, aiming to improve digital services and governance.
Key Takeaways
- MoU signed between DoT and NABARD
- Focus on enhancing digital services in rural areas
- High-speed broadband access through BharatNet
- Collaboration on capacity-building initiatives
- Support for Primary Agriculture Co-operative Credit Societies
New Delhi, March 27 (NationPress) The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at fostering digital empowerment in the rural regions of the nation.
The primary goal of this MoU is to enhance rural development within institutions backed by NABARD by facilitating access to digital services, promoting digital governance, and advancing a digital economy through high-speed broadband connectivity as part of the BharatNet initiative.
NABARD will provide essential information, including geo-coordinates and contact information for institutions, while the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under DoT will supply geo-coordinates for the BharatNet points of presence (PoP) located in gram panchayats (GPs). This will enable the extension of high-speed broadband to rural institutions and enterprises.
“The two entities will exchange digital content (audio/video/text) relevant to their initiatives and share details about their digital services, citizen-centric applications, portals, and e-governance platforms to enhance integration and information dissemination,” stated the Ministry of Communications.
They will also work together on awareness programs and capacity-building initiatives aimed at start-ups, entrepreneurs, and rural institutions.
Both DBN and NABARD will support each other’s endeavors to create a digital economy by utilizing high-speed broadband connectivity via BharatNet. NABARD will advocate for the inclusion of ICT infrastructure, including broadband support for institutions under its various schemes and projects.
DBN has played a critical role in establishing high-speed broadband and mobile connectivity across gram panchayats and villages throughout the country.
This partnership, utilizing high-speed broadband connectivity through BharatNet, will provide a significant digital boost to institutions such as Primary Agriculture Co-operative Credit Societies that are supported and computerized by NABARD.
According to government reports, approximately 218,000 gram panchayats out of a total of 268,000 in the nation are now ready to provide high-speed internet services under the BharatNet initiative.
The BharatNet project is being carried out by DoT in a phased approach to ensure broadband access across all gram panchayats in India.
