The digitalization initiative of the Government is to build a truly inclusive and enlightened India. The unique initiative for health care in India-SEHAT launched today is an initiative in furtherance to Government’s commitment to empower rural citizens in having access to information, knowledge, skills and other services in various sectors through the intervention of digital technologies and fulfilling the vision of a “Digital India”.  The Union Minister for Information Technology and Telecom, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad said this while launching the new initiative here today.

He said the Government was working to mainstream the underprivileged classes to come at par and to develop the rural community both socially and economically so as to build an inclusive and enlightened India. He said “Digital India” program is to transform India into a digitally empowered society so as to share the fruits of development with every section of the society especially those living in rural India. He said digitally empowered rural women can truly address the issues of structural imbalances and poverty.

In furtherance to digital India objective at least one (1) CSC in every Panchayat. Is being set up. There will be around 2,50,000 access points for delivery of various Government to citizen ( G2C ) services. The citizen can avail all the facilities near to the place of residence and need not frequent the Government offices. He said the CSC will also become a “change agent” for enabling the family member to learn computer skills and undergo vocational training resulting in digital empowerment and enhancement of family income.  CSCs’ are well placed to play a significant role in the emerging field of e-commerce and enable people especially the rural artisan and farmers to sell their goods and services across the country and the world. 

The Post offices including the EDPOs are being made multi service delivery points and all the CSCs services can be delivered to citizen through the post offices. Postal department has also got a payment bank license and with collaboration between CSC SPV and postal department all the CSC across the country shall be able to provide the banking services to the citizen. With this banking services can be made available to each individual in less than two years time.

One of the focus areas of digital India program is to promote digital literacy.  The Government envisage to make at least one person e-literate in every household.  CSCs across the county can play a critical role in taking Digital literacy to the remotest corners of the country. Already more than two lakh persons have been trained and certified  as digitally literate across the country . The youth trained under this scheme will further develop their digital skills to become successful change agents and effectively participate in Nation Building.

Quality and affordable health care is one of the emerging needs for citizen in Rural Areas. CSC SPV and Apollo has come together to address this issue and design a workable solution. CSC has been delivering tele-consultation services with support from Apollo and Medanta in some areas and now with this initiative the tele consultation services are being extended to 60,000 CSCs across the country.

CSCs will also provide diagnostic services and promote sale of generic drugs through collaboration with Ministry of Health – by setting up of the Jan Aasudhi Stores. With the availability of tele consultation, diagnostic facilities and generic drugs stores – we can redefine the extension of affordable and quality health care to the citizen especially in rural India .and  hope that this will become a game changer not only for India but also exemplary for other countries across the globe .

NNK/MD