CM stresses on growing importance of IT
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, November 10 2022: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has stressed the need for the State's youths to gain expertise in the field of IT sector so that they could cope up with the fast advancement of information technology across the world.

The Chief Minister was addressing the inaugural session of a Capacity Building Conference on 5G held at Hotel Classic Grande today.

N Biren continued that youths of the State seemed to be reluctant to venture into the IT sector, adding that no local student could be found admitted in the State's Indian Institute of Information Technology.

He appealed to parents and guardians to consider the growing importance for their wards to gain adequate knowledge of Information Technology, mentioning that it is the time for the IT sector.

CM stresses on growing importance of IT

Maintaining that the State had been making great strides in all spheres of development, he added that leveraging telecom infrastructure for better governance has been an integral part of the State Government's inclusive development strategy.

The State Government had been extending full support and co-operation for creation of digital infrastructures in Manipur.

Initiatives like Bharat Net are being implemented in the State to transform the rural masses by providing affordable and equitable access to the internet, he added.

The Chief Minister informed that 360 villages of the State had been included under 4G Saturation project to provide 4G mobile services to uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas.

Proposal is under preparation for inclusion of additional 833 uncovered villages, he stated.

He continued that the IT Department in association with CSC-Special Purpose Vehicle had been monitoring the performance of 1000+ active CSCs in the State.

Based on their performance, an incentive programme had been implemented to encourage CSCs to provide services in remote areas, he added.

Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched 5G services in India last month to power the future of connectivity in the country, Biren informed that the State is also taking up various initiatives for successful roll out of 5G services in the State.

A working committee on 5G had been formed and an amendment to Manipur Right of Way Policy 2019 has also been processed to incorporate 5G policies, he said.

He said that building a robust and resilient connectivity infrastructure in the State is critical, given the State's strategic location which connects India to one of the most economically dynamic and politically significant geographies of the world.

The Chief Minister was also hopeful that deliberations and discussion at today's conference would help the State gear up for a smooth and quick roll out of 5G in the State.

Delivering his speech, Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar stated that the capacity building conference had been organized to make officials aware of how to facilitate seamless roll out of 5G in Manipur.

He mentioned that the Chief Minister had given direction to ensure full cooperation for saturation of 4G, which is very important.

He recalled the statement of the Prime Minister who stated that no pockets in India should be left without 4G services in 500 days.

He sought cooperation of everyone to make Manipur the first State to have 100 per cent 4G services in the country.

He further stated that the Government of Manipur under the supervision of the Chief Minister would make efforts to make Imphal one of the cities where 5G is rolled out at the earliest possible time.

He continued that the intent is to use 5G service for high end activities like tele-medicine and tele-education, among others.

It is time to ensure that all blocks and sub-divisions have 5G services by December 2023, he added.

The inaugural session of the conference was also attended by DG (DoT) Ashutosh Sharma, DG (DIPA) Tilak Raj Dua, Additional Chief Secretary V Vumlunmang, Special Secretary (IT) B John Tlangtinkhuma and senior officials of the Central and State Governments, among others.

The inaugural session was followed by two technical sessions and a briefing session.