India showed world how to democratise technology, use it as a weapon against poverty: Prime Minister Narendra Modi  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi informs participants of Bengaluru Tech Summit that during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many countries were struggling without the infrastructure to deliver healthcare to their people, India showed how technology can be harnessed for good causes

India has shown how to democratise technology for the good of humanity, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating the 25th edition of Karnataka’s tech exposition, Bengaluru Tech Summit, in Bengaluru by video conferencing on November 16.

“For a long time, technology was seen as an exclusive domain. It was said to be only for the high and mighty. India has shown how to democratise technology,” he said.

India has also shown how to give tech a human touch. Technology, in India, is a force of equality and empowerment. The world’s largest health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat provides a safety net for nearly 200 million (20 crore) families and about 600 million (60 crore) people. This programme is based on a tech platform. India also organised the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccine drive, again on a tech-based platform called COWIN, said the Prime Miniter.

India is using technology as a weapon in its war against poverty. “Under the Svamitva scheme, we are using drones to map land in rural areas. Then, property cards are given to the people. This reduces land disputes. It also helps the poor to access financial services and credit.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, many countries were struggling without the infrastructure to deliver healthcare to their people. But India showed how technology could be a force for the good.

“Our Jan Dhan Aadhaar Mobile Trinity gave us the power to directly transfer benefits. Benefits went directly to authenticated and verified beneficiaries. Billions of rupees reached bank accounts of the poor,” he elaborated.

“Have you heard of a government running a successful e-commerce platform? It has happened in India. We have the government e-marketplace, called GeM. It is a platform where small traders and businesses fulfill the government’s needs.”