Chhattisgarh has reformed the old education system with the help of latest technology platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and radio, and the State has used these platforms to connect better with people, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh has said.
Speaking at the “India Social Good Summit 2015” in New Delhi on Monday, Dr Singh dwelt at length on how to bridge the digital divide and cited the successful initiatives undertaken in his own state. “We have given our people the right to food and nutrition, eradicated malnutrition from the State and decreased child and mother mortality rates with the help of technology and of course society,” he said.
A host of policymakers, celebrities and innovators, gathered at the Summit held at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi to discuss the role of technology in social initiatives. Incidentally, the Summit, themed #2030Now-Technology for Social Good, came close on the heels of signing of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in New York last week and the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States.
Adopted unanimously by all 193 UN Member States on 25th September at the General Assembly in New York, the SDGs are 17 ambitious goals to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change for everyone, among others, by 2030. UNDP India stands as a ready partner to support the Government of India and others to help achieve the goals by 2030.
Dr Singh said that social media has been a great contributor to effective implementation of public welfare schemes. “Chhattisgarh has been actively using latest technologies in bringing about change in fields of education, health and nutrition.”
Elaborating on the contribution of technology in strengthening the education sector of the State, the Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh has started an online monitoring system to ensure 100 per cent attendance of teachers in schools, and the move has resulted in more than 80 per cent increase in teachers’ attendance. He added that technology has also helped in spreading education in remote areas of the State.
Commending India on the ‘Digital India’ initiative, Yuri Afanasiev, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for India, said, “India is leading the way in demonstrating how technology can ensure governance reaches each and every citizen, and fundamentally transform our approach to development.”
Social media in India is expanding exponentially, reducing social barriers and connecting more and more people. Actress, director and humanitarian Dia Mirza said that now, more than ever before, technology could make a huge social impact. In her view, “Greater connectivity can be and is being put to incredible use. Millions of people are combining education, profession and entrepreneurship to make a difference.”
The District Collector Balrampur in Chhattisgarh, Alex Paul Menon, also gave detailed information on the use of technology in better implementation of administrative scheme in the State.
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