Detailed Project Report For Postal Bank to be Finalized in Next Six Months

Detailed Project Report For Postal Bank to be Finalized in Next Six Months

Shri Kapil Sibal Addresses Economic Editors’ Conference 2011
ICTE Enabled Inclusive Growth to Script India’s Future
Mobile Phone to be Repositioned as A Tool of Empowerment
Research and Innovation to be Encouraged for A Range of Products and Services
India to Transform into Global Hub for Electronics Manufacturing
Detailed Project Report For Postal Bank to be Finalized in Next Six Months

Shri Kapil Sibal, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology informed the Economic Editor’s Conference here today that mobile phones would be repositioned as an instrument of empowerment. This would combine communication with proof of identity, fully secure financial and other transaction capability and multi-lingual services. The Minister also said that demands for ICTE products and services would be leveraged to foster innovation and encourage R&D through academic institutions and industry. He also emphasized that it is envisioned to transform India into a global hub for electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM).

Following is the text of opening remarks of the Minister:

“Information Technology (IT) and Telecom best epitomises what 21^st century India is capable of achieving. In these sectors our history is spectacular and the future holds path breaking possibilities. Information and Communications Technology and Electronics (ICTE) has the potential to script India’s future across the economy, society and government.

“ICTE has been contributing to the economic growth of the country by increasing efficiency, competitiveness and technological edge across sectors. ICTE is also the enabling force for inclusive growth and development by increasing economic opportunities across nations, regions and groups.

“The developments in the ICTE sector and allied sectors pose both challenges and opportunities.

“Mobile phone has become more than a communication device. Today more than 850 million mobile subscribers are capable of using their phone for online banking, utility bill payments, pension payments, ticket booking etc. The possibilities here are enormous. It can be developed as a powerful tool of empowerment in near future.

“Services are becoming increasingly linked through mobile, internet and other digital modes of delivery. With Aadhar and NeGP applications, mobile will be used for e-authentication and availing a large number of government services without visiting government offices. This will not only improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public service delivery but will also help to reduce corruption in public life.

“In the IT industry, the advent of cloud technology has thrown up another wider range of possibilities for India. The Indian IT industry can come up with new products and services with cloud technologies, incorporating their own IPs and patents. The stage is set for a quantum jump now.

“Key social ministries like education, health and rural development have ambitious digitization, content creation and e-service delivery programs.

“India is ready for a leapfrog. It is the time to connect the dots and to give a proper direction to the ICTE sector. It is also time to look at some missing pieces. One missing link is Electronics Manufacturing. By 2020, the demand, supply gap in this sector will be $300 billion. Underdeveloped Electronics Manufacturing sector may upset our plans of technology led India in the 21^st century.

“Only a holistic view can help is overcome enormous challenges and help emulate the successes of IT and Telecom in electronics. It is in this context that a combination of three interdependent and synergistic policies for Telecom, IT and Electronics Manufacturing have been formulated and released.

The three policies together drives the National agenda for ICTE. The principal policy objectives are

· Optimally leverage our existing and developing ICT infrastructure and capabilities to meet our growing need for high quality social sector services like health, education, rural development, skill development, welfare programs, e-gov services, economic services like banking and insurance.

· To use the ICTE capabilities to enhance competitiveness and efficiency in manufacturing across the board and in key infrastructure sectors like power

· Leveraging the mushrooming demand for ICTE products and services to foster innovation, encourage R&D through academic institutions and industry and to create a range of products and services that not only meet domestic demand but also addresses global demand.

· To reposition the mobile phone from a mere communication devise to an instrument of empowerment that combines communication with proof of identity, fully secure financial and other transaction capability, multi-lingual services etc.

“The primary objective of NTP 2011 is maximizing public good by making available affordable, reliable and secure telecommunication and broadband services across the entire country. The main thrust of the policy is on the multiplier effect and transformational impact of such services in furthering the national development agenda while enhancing the equity and inclusiveness.

“The key objectives of NTP 2011 is to achieve Full Mobile Number Portability, One Nation-Free Roaming, 100% rural tele-density by 2020, 600 million broadband connections by 2020, on demand broadband of at-least 100 MBPS, One license across services and service areas, Right to Broadband and to reposition mobile phone as an instrument of Empowerment

“ The National Policy on IT 2011 aims to strengthen and enhance India’s position as the global IT hub and to use IT as an engine for rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth in the national economy. This policy aims to make India a knowledge and service society with a secured cyber space.

“The key objectives of National Policy on Information Technology is to achieve by the year 2020, revenue from IT industry of $300 million, to create a pool of 10 million additional skilled manpower, mandatory and affordable e-government services to common man, regulatory framework for secured cyber space.

“The National Policy on Electronics Manufacturing aims to transform India into a global hub for electronics system design and manufacturing(ESDM) so as to meet the country’s needs and serve the international market by promote indigenous manufacturing in the entire value chain of ESDM and promoting a vibrant and sustainable eco-system for R&D, design and engineering and innovation in Electronics

“The key objectives of National Policy on Electronics Manufacturing is to achieve by 2020, turnover of $400 billion, employment of 28 million, turnover of $ 55 billion in chip design and embedded software industry, setting up of 200 electronics manufacturing hub and 2500 PhDs per annum.

“The three policies together aims to ensure that ICTE permeates to all aspects of society, business, governance finance and other aspects of modern life. These policies are oriented towards use of ICTs in ways that consciously promote decentralization and empower the common man.

“One organization and sector which is rarely talked in public but which is equally important for empowering the common man is Postal Department. With its network of 1.55 lakh post offices and wide range of financial, mailing and insurance, post offices in India have the enormous potential to join and ride on the ICTE agenda. To enable post offices to serve the 21^st century Indians, reform agenda is underway

“One, Indian Post Office Bill 2011. To reform and open the Indian Postal Market, which will ultimately result in a vibrant industry and satisfied customers. The bills aims to open the Indian postal market with 50 gm privilege to India Post for a maximum of 15 years, registration of couriers by an independent registration authority and USO of postal sector to be borne wholly by the government. Discussions with stakeholders ( couriers, industry bodies and government agencies) is underway and bill will shortly introduced in the Parliament for approval.

“Two, IT Modernization Project. It has been approved by the Cabinet and essentially involves

· Computerization and networking of 1.55 lakh post offices.

· Core banking solution for Anytime Anywhere Banking through Post Offices with ATM facility

· Delivery of banking, insurance and mailing services in rural areas through hand held device.

· Postal Network to deliver a host of retail ( banking, financial and e-com services) with technology enabled solutions

· Post Offices to become hub of social security payment through digital network

“Three, setting up of Postal Bank of India – Detailed Project Report will be finalized in next six months. This will enable India Post to extend micro credit and other loans through vast network of 1.55 lakh post offices. Coupled with other financial services like micro remittance, micro insurance and micro pensions, postal bank of India will help to achieve the goal of financial inclusion in India

“Four, Commercialization of Postal Network in India, to ensure that a large number of financial, insurance and physical goods and services are delivered to the common man though India Post.

“National Telecom Policy 2011

“Vision – To provide to the people of India, secure, reliable, affordable and high quality converged telecommunication services, anytime, anywhere.

“Mission

· To develop a robust, secure state of the art telecommunication network providing seamless coverage with special focus on rural and remote areas and bridging digital divide.

· To create knowledge based society through proliferation of broadband services in every part of the country

· Make India a global hub for Telecom equipment manufacturing and provisioning of converged communication services.

· To promote R&D and Product Innovation in cutting edge ICTE technologies

· To promote development of new standards and generation of IPRs.

“Objectives

· Increase rural tele-density from the current level of around 35 to 60 by the year 2017 and 100 by 2010

· Provide affordable and reliable broadband on demand by the year 2015 and to achieve 175 million broadband connections by 2017 and 600 million by the year 2020 at minimum download speed of 2 MBPS and making available higher speed of at-least 100 MBPS on demand.

· Provide high speed and high quality broadband access to all village panchayats through optical fiber by 2014

· To meet 80% Indian telecom sector demand through domestic manufacturing with a value addition of 65% by 2020

· Strive to create one nation –one license across services and service areas.

· Achieve One nation – Full Mobile Number Portability and to work towards One Nation – Free Roaming

· To reposition the Mobile Phone from a mere communication device to an instrument of empowerment.

· To recognize telecom and broadband connectivity as a basic necessity like education and health and work towards ‘Right to Broadband’

· Delink the licensing of networks from the delivery of services to the end users to facilitate faster roll out of services.

· To delink spectrum in respect of all future licenses.

· To frame appropriate Exit Policy for the licensees.

“National Policy on Information Technology 2011

“Vision

To strengthen and enhance India’s position as the global IT hub and to use IT as an engine for rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth in the national economy

“Mission

1. To consolidate India’s position as the global IT and ITeS hub and leverage IT to contribute significantly to GDP and employment.

2. To create and promote a sustainable ecosystem for R&D and Innovation

3. To leverage ICT to increase the competitiveness and Productivity of key strategic sectors.

4. To enhance the use of ICT in public services to enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability and reliability.

5. To ensure secure Cyber Space for sustainable growth of ICT.

6. To transform India into a Knowledge and Service society

“Objectives

1. To increase revenues of IT and ITeS industry from USD 88 billion at present to $ 300 billion by 2020

2. To increase exports from the IT industry from $ 55 billion at present to $ 200 billion by 2020

3. To create a pool of 10 million additional skilled manpower in ICT

4. To ensure mandatory and affordable access to delivery of public services to the common man

5. To leverage the usage of ICT in key social sectors like education, health, rural development and financial services to ensure inclusive growth

6. To establish a regulatory and security framework for Secure Cyberspace.

“National Policy on Electronics Manufacturing 2011

“Vision

To transform India into a global hub for electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) so as to meet the country’s needs and serve theinternational market.

“Mission

a. To promote indigenous manufacturing in the entire value chain of ESDM for economic development

b. To promote a vibrant and sustainable eco-system for R&D, design and engineering and innovation in Electronics

c. To develop capacities for manufacture of strategic electronics within the country

d. To develop high quality electronics products

e. To promote environment friendly global best practises.

“Objectives

a. To achieve a turnover of USD 400 billion by 2020 involving investment of about USD 100 billion and employment to around 28 million by 2020.

b. To achieve a turnover of USD 55 billion of chip design and embedded software industry, USD 80 billion of exports in the sector.

c. Setting up of over 200 Electronics manufacturing clusters.

d. To significantly upscale high end human resource creation to 2500 PhDs annually by 2020 in the sector.

e. Other Objectives –

(i) Institutional, mechanism developing and mandating standards and certification,

(ii) Develop security profile of ESDM for strategic use,

(iii) To become a global leader in creating IPRs in ESDM.”

SP/AT/ska