The NASSCOM foundation introduces the “Aspirational Districts Program” In order to empower the marginalised in India’s rural and underdeveloped areas, the NASSCOM Foundation announced the commencement of its “Aspirational Districts Programme,” with the goal of digitally enabling and skilling more than 3.5 million people by March 2024.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Rakesh Ranjan, the NITI Aayog’s Mission Director for the Aspirational Districts Initiative, attended the event and spoke about how the programme is a promising start toward expediting the nation’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
THE ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS PROGRAMME
To impact over 3.5 million lives through digital inclusion at the last mile, the NASSCOM Foundation has launched the Aspirational Districts Program. This initiative will concentrate on e-governance, digital literacy, and skill development for underserved regions. To prioritise digital literacy and tech-based skilling, 55 aspirational districts will construct digital resource centres. In addition to providing training through the Digital Resource Centers, the Foundation will assist kids by enabling their access to work prospects.
IMPLEMENTING A STRONGER SDG AGENDA
The programme closely reflects the main tenet of the NASSCOM Foundation, TechForGood, which promotes the use of technological efforts to advance social good. This would prioritise economic development across communities in line with the PM’s vision for the Digital India mission, in addition to stepping up efforts to achieve the SDG agenda.
The aspirational districts will be furnished with digital resource centres that will serve as catalysts for change and engines of development, ensuring they offer information, materials, and a variety of government-based services that are based on citizen needs and have a positive impact on citizens’ lives and means of subsistence.
AWARENESS OF THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM
Another significant focal area of the NASSCOM Foundation programme is raising awareness of applicable government programmes and e-governance services, as well as providing excellent digital skills training.
According to Nidhi Bhasin, CEO of NASSCOM Foundation, “the Government’s Aspirational Districts Programme, led by NITI Aayog, has sparked equitable growth and development in every part of the country.”
He continued, “We are convinced that by working together to launch people-centric digital initiatives, we will be able to transform 55 districts, empower more than 3.5 million people, and ultimately make technology inexpensive, egalitarian, and most importantly accessible to the last mile.
