The Government of India is actively considering a Rs 6000 crore scheme to set up Information Technology-driven 'rural service delivery centres' in 100,000 villages.
Addressing a press conference at Kochi on the eve of the ninth National e-Governance Conference, Union IT Department Joint Secretary R Chandrashekhar said the project should be in place by 2007-end. It would be an ''entrepreneur-driven model'' and was estimated to create half a million jobs in the country. The community centres with broadband connectivity, computers, printers, photocopiers, faxes and other communication and IT tools would provide a range of public and private services to the people. Nearly 500 delegates from all states are expected to attend the 9th national e-Governance Conference on the theme 'Accelerating e-Governance:Collaborate, Replicate and Extend the Reach', comprising 16 sessions and over 50 presentations. The conference was being organised by the Union Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in collaboration with the Kerala State Information Technology Mission. A major highlight of the event would be the distribution of ''National Awards for Excellence in e-Governance''.
