India is now getting ready for the next step, using broadband connectivity to take education and healthcare to the villages, says IT and Telecommmunications Minister Shakeel Ahmad.
Shakeel Ahmad, minister of state for communications and information technology, said India's skilled human resources had made it a global hub for IT.
Next year would be an important year for broadband connectivity in India. The country would be looking at a social revolution when education and health facilities would reach the rural economy through broadband connections.
He said this would put India to a higher growth and development trajectory. Skill training and creation of entrepreneurs would help address the issue of educated unemployment in the country.
François Barrault, president, BT International, BT, UK, said, "India has set the benchmark in a digital network economy where Bangalore is seen as a model."
While moving forward it is important to create competition, lead innovation and perceive R&D as important and exclusive of sales, he said.
For the developed world, besides the labour cost, the other factors that matter are the risks, access to knowledge and skill development. Barrault said foreign investors are enthusiastic about India and see huge opportunities in its growing economy.
Rajendra S Pawar, chairman, NIIT Group, said there are great opportunities in India. By 2020, there will be a shortage of 50 million working age population in the developed world while India would have a surplus of 47 million.
If the Indian population is imparted education and skills, then the country stands a lot to gain from the demographic dividend, he said.
If the Indian population is imparted education and skills, then the country stands a lot to gain from the demographic dividend, he said.
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