To make the rural population a part of the worldwide web, the Centre has set a target to provide broadband connectivity to more than 6.5 lakh villages in the next three years, said Union Minister of State for Information Technology and Communications Sachin Pilot, while speaking on the ‘Role of IT in national development’ at the Tata Consultancy Service Auditorium on Saturday.

“Economic slowdown had reduced the growth of the IT sector in India by 16 per cent last year,” said Pilot.

“With the economy showing signs of recovery, the Centre plans to make a huge investment in the IT sector in the next 18 months. Indian IT companies should utilise the opportunity and focus on growth of the domestic market,” added Pilot.

Later in the day, the minister also addressed the management and engineering students at a programme on ‘Shaping Young Minds’ organised by the All India Management Association.

Speaking on the poor connectivity plaguing the growth of Uttar Pradesh, Pilot said the highly populated state could do better to improve on roads, infrastructure, transport and IT communication services.

“Two or three IT companies in Lucknow or Noida are insufficient to grow IT services in UP. If the state government takes the initiative, the Centre will certainly help,” he said.

While delivering services to foreign customers, Pilot said, Indian IT companies should also help the domestic IT industries expand and improve.  

“To get a birth certificate, a villager has to run from pillar to post at the tehsil office and the collectorate, all of which is due to lack of information. IT is a powerful tool to make the rural people aware about the functioning of the system,” he said.

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