Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Highlights of Twitter Conference of Sam Pitroda , Adviser to the Indian Prime Minister on PIII





It seems Indian Government is also started using Social Media effectively.

Today (September 25th, 2012) we had seen a Press conference of Indian Govt Official on Twitter first time.


The Twitter press conference was conducted by Sam Pitroda who is the Adviser to the Indian Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations (PIII).


The Twitter conference started at 3:30 PM IST to discuss about "Democratisation of Information". And, this conference uses #DoI as hastag. And this hastag #DoI was trending for many hours in India.


Sam Pitroda uses the Twitter Handle @pitrodasam for this online twitter Conference.

Right now he is having 29K Twitter followers. Sam Pitroda is the key person in bringing Telecom revolution in India. Apart from being the Advisor to PM, Same Pitroda is an Inventor and Entrepreneur.


Sam Pitroda had started the conference by asking his Twitter followers to watch his YouTube video about "Democratisation of Information". And Sam explained the reason for using Twitter for the online conference.

Then Sam Pitroda has announced "#DoI" as the hastag for today's conference. And, he says, "I firmly believe that #Information is the 4th pillar of #democracy along with legislature, executive and judiciary"


And, then Sam Pitroda has given below information thro multiple tweets.

Information brings about openness,accessibility, transparency, accountability, networking, decentralisation & as a result #democratisation.

Information is power and not many wish to share. Info is critical for development and needs to be timely available to people. Now that #India is a country of a billion #connected people, the challenge is to create a new paradigm for #development
Public #Information Infrastructure (PII) will transform India’s 1.2 billion people into 1.2 billion opportunities.
UPA Govt has various plans to build robust Information Infrastructure to democratize information on a scale that has never been done before UPA Govt also has political will to make it happen.
This will have far reaching implications on delivery of #public services, #Governance, #Education, #Health, #Agriculture, etc.

However, it will require new mindset and commitment of the young to change the course.
PII includes the NKN to connect 1500 nodes for universities, colleges, R&D labs, Libraries, etc. Visit http://www.nkn.in

PII also includes fibre connectivity to all 250000 #panchayats

To build PII, we need multiple open platforms for Broadband, UID, GIS, Security, Applications, Payment and Portals

I believe that the NKN is a game changer and is going to revolutionise the way we #connect, #collaborate and deliver #education.

The NKN has enormous possibilities: Virtual Classrooms, Research Collab, etc.
We have the #open government platform at http://www.data.gov.in will provide access to govt. data and documents.We need your support and help in making this happen. Please visit our websites and give us your ideas and inputs. All this will require innovations, new business models, process reengineering, new products and new services and lot more.




Then Sam Pitroda has started answering questions asked by the Twitter users.

Question:Is democratization of info possible without a radical change in the mindsets of our legislators and bureaucrats?
Answer:No. But we need to start now. It will take time.

Question:What does #DOI "Democratisation of Information" mean for a villager who does not have access to information?
Answer: The purpose is to give them access to information

Question:how can wireless broadband internet access be scaled up to the ubiquity achieved by the STD booth that revolutionised telephony?
Answer:all 250,000 Panchayats will have fibre connectivity to ensure ubiquity


Question:Will DOI have the same fate as RTI? National security and till when will it be used to curtail info?
Answer:Certain sensitive information will have to be controlled by the government

Question:the project to connect 250k panchayats has been talked about for years-cud u tell us what is being done to speed it up?
Answer:Pilot projects on Panchayat connectivity already underway, hopeful it will be done in next 18 months


Question:Shouldn't information be the foundation for other three? (in reply to Sams' tweet about 4 pillars)
Answer:YES. However Information platform is needed to integrate ,create standards and improve access

Question:Why is computerization of tasks, performance monitoring and evaluation not being done in Ministries, Govt. departments.
Answer:We are infact doing exactly that! Delhi High Court is a good example.


Question:Appreciate the National Knowledge Network #DoI How can such a network be replicated amongst districts in a state? Any Plans?
Answer:NKN is already in all States upto Block level and State Governments have to leverage it

Question:why a separate infrastructure and investment is needed why can't the existing network be used ?
Answer:we are using all existing infrastructure and not duplicating! A million km of OFC already exists

Question:Why u think that democratization of information means only the information provide by Government?
Answer:Agree. It is not just govt. Education ,Health,Agriculture,etc is more for the people and by the people.


Question: I would want to use the data at http://data.gov.in in useful apps for people, but will it be updated with latest copies of it?
Answer:Work underway to get more data on http://Data.gov for citizens to develop relevant applications

Question:how can citizens contribute to this agenda?
Answer:citizens can develop relevant useful information and apps in local languag

Question:Sir please elaborate about NKN. The report has been submitted long ago but nothing substantial has happened. Situation now?
Answer:NKN is already operational, 850 institutions are connected, visit website nkn.in to get status update


Question:How will you go about executing the idea and in how much time?
Answer:Various dept will decide that. First there will be some concerns. However, I am sure after a while dep will be more open.

Question:250,000 Panchayats with OFC..any time line and budget allocation for the same?
Answer:Around Rs. 30,000 Crores in 18 Months

Question:All info would be made available or do restrictions apply?
Answer:Depends on the source of the info.


Question: sir in process to implement e governence what is biggest hurdle-power or lack of initiative?
Answer:Reengineering of processes is a big hurdle!

Question:Apart from connectivity, what concrete policy changes are planned to democratise information? What synergies with RTI?
Answer: It starts with RTI. To back it up, we need PII. And then provide access to real time info to ppl on demand.

Question:Why is internet access, which is a basic right in many countries, so expensive in India?
Answer:Hopefully prices will go down as we get more broadband capacity and OFC to panchayats


Question: will UPA deliver NOFN within this term?
Answer:NOFN fibre being laid by BSNL, PowerGrid, railtel, private players also being used to lay fibre



Watch the below slideshow about PIII initiatives in India.




Read Sam Pitroda Quotes here

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1 comment:

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